On December 4, 2025, the stately halls of Beijing played host to a diplomatic encounter that underscored the evolving relationship between two global heavyweights: China and France. Chinese President Xi Jinping and French President Emmanuel Macron stood side by side at the closing ceremony of the seventh meeting of the China-France Business Council, signaling a renewed commitment to deepen economic, political, and cultural ties. The event, attended by about 150 representatives from both governments and business communities, marked a pivotal moment in a year brimming with anniversaries and global challenges.
Macron’s three-day state visit to China was meticulously timed. Not only does 2025 usher in the second 60 years of China-France diplomatic relations, but it also marks the 50th anniversary of China’s formal ties with the European Union. These milestones provided a fitting backdrop for a series of high-stakes discussions on trade, global governance, and security—issues that have become ever more pressing as the international order faces mounting uncertainty.
Trade, unsurprisingly, took center stage. According to official figures cited by Bastille Post, the total two-way trade value between China and France reached a staggering 68.75 billion U.S. dollars in the first ten months of 2025, with cumulative investments exceeding 27 billion U.S. dollars. Both leaders were keen to highlight not just the numbers, but the momentum behind them. "China's open door will only open wider," President Xi declared, emphasizing Beijing’s plans to expand market access, open up investment areas, and guide the rational layout of industrial and supply chains.
Macron, for his part, stressed the importance of dialogue and partnership in a world where peace and stability are increasingly fragile. “We are facing the risk of the disintegration of the international order that brought peace to the world for decades, and in this context, the dialogue between China and France is even more essential than ever,” he said, as reported by the Associated Press. He called on China to join France’s efforts to secure a ceasefire in Ukraine, specifically urging a moratorium on strikes targeting critical infrastructure. While Xi stopped short of endorsing France’s proposal directly, he did offer a measured response: “China supports all efforts that work towards peace” and advocated for a peace deal acceptable to all parties.
These diplomatic overtures come at a time when both countries are navigating a complex geopolitical landscape. France, set to assume the presidency of the Group of Seven (G7) in 2026, is eager to assert a leadership role on the global stage. China, meanwhile, continues to balance its support for Russia with calls for multilateral solutions to international crises. Xi’s remarks reflected this balancing act: “No matter how the external environment changes, both sides as major powers should always demonstrate independence and strategic vision, show mutual understanding and mutual support for each other on core matters and major critical issues.”
Beyond Ukraine, the leaders also addressed another urgent crisis: the ongoing conflict in Gaza. Xi announced that China would provide 100 million U.S. dollars to support humanitarian relief, recovery, and reconstruction efforts in the embattled territory. This gesture, highlighted by AP, underscores Beijing’s desire to be seen as a responsible global actor—one that can contribute positively to the reform and improvement of global governance.
The economic agenda was equally ambitious. Both sides signed 12 new agreements spanning aerospace, aeronautics, nuclear energy, green industries, artificial intelligence, and even panda conservation. The latter has become an unexpected symbol of Sino-French friendship. Macron and his wife, Brigitte, were scheduled to visit Chengdu’s Conservation and Research Center for the Giant Panda, home to Yuan Meng—the first giant panda born in France, named by the French first lady herself. Just last month, France returned two star pandas to China after 13 years, during which they gave birth to three cubs, further cementing the unique cultural bond between the two nations.
Yet, beneath the surface of bonhomie, there are undercurrents of competition and strategic calculation. The European Union, as AP notes, runs a massive trade deficit with China—over 300 billion euros last year, with China accounting for nearly half of France’s total deficit. Recent years have seen a flurry of trade disputes, from EU investigations into Chinese electric vehicle subsidies to China’s probes into European brandy, pork, and dairy imports. France, however, managed to secure an exemption for most cognac producers earlier this year—a diplomatic win in an otherwise tense trade environment.
The shadow of broader EU-China relations loomed large over the summit. President Xi made it clear that he views France as a “partner, a competitor and a systemic rival,” but also stressed that interdependency is not a risk and convergent interests are not a threat. He called for both countries to “continuously expand new areas of bilateral economic and trade cooperation, keep fostering new progress in mutually beneficial China-EU cooperation, and jointly make fresh contributions to the reform and improvement of global governance.”
Some experts, like Lyle Morris of the Asia Society, have cautioned that Beijing may be using bilateral engagements with major EU economies like France to drive a wedge into the EU’s unified approach toward China. While this remains a point of debate among policymakers in Brussels, both Xi and Macron were careful to present a united front on the need for “true multilateralism,” upholding the authority of the United Nations and the World Trade Organization, and providing a fair, transparent, and predictable business environment for enterprises of both countries.
The symbolism of the moment was not lost on observers. As children waved flags and a military band played at Beijing’s Great Hall of the People, the message was clear: China and France are determined to chart a course that balances competition with cooperation, pragmatism with principle. Macron’s itinerary, which included meetings with top Chinese officials and a visit to the heart of panda diplomacy in Chengdu, reflected the multifaceted nature of the relationship.
As the world watches, the outcome of this renewed partnership remains to be seen. Will it lead to breakthroughs on Ukraine and Gaza? Can both sides manage their differences on trade and industrial policy without undermining the broader EU-China relationship? One thing is certain: in a year marked by anniversaries and anxieties, the China-France axis is determined to keep the doors of dialogue wide open and the gears of cooperation turning.