France and China want balanced relations between the EU and the Asian giant

This Monday, France pledged to maintain balanced relations between China and the European Union (EU) at a meeting of the two countries’ presidents in Paris, which was attended by the President of the European Commission.

“Our desire is to have a balanced relationship with China,” said French head of state Emmanuel Macron before a meeting with Xi Jinping and Ursula von der Leyen at the Elysee Palace.

According to the Spanish news agency EFE, Macron demanded “fair rules for everyone” on trade between Europe and China.

“The future of our continent will clearly depend on our ability to continue to develop relations with China in a balanced manner,” Macron said, also quoted by the French news agency AFP.

In brief statements to the press ahead of a closed meeting with Xi Jinping and von der Leyen, the French leader referred to economic and trade tensions between China and the EU.

In recent months, the EU has announced measures to guard against practices it considers unfair from Beijing, namely subsidies to certain sectors whose products flood the European market, such as electric cars.

Macron said there were other issues that would be discussed with the Chinese president and spoke about the wars in Ukraine and the Middle East.

“These are two major crises in which coordination between us is critical,” he said.

Xi called on China and the EU to strengthen “strategic coordination” and remain partners in the context of numerous disputes ranging from trade to human rights.

“As the world’s two major powers, China and the EU should remain partners, continue dialogue and cooperation, deepen strategic communication, strengthen strategic mutual trust, strengthen strategic consensus and strive for strategic coordination,” Xi said.

According to the Chinese leader, “the goal is to promote the stable and healthy development of China-EU relations and continuously make new contributions to world peace and development.”

The EU officially views China as a partner, but also as a competitor and systemic rival.

Relations between Beijing and Brussels have become significantly strained, especially after the EU launched an investigation into the Asian giant’s subsidies for electric vehicles in 2023.

China has also faced criticism from the West, especially Europeans, over the Ukraine issue.

While calling for respect for the territorial integrity of all countries, including Ukraine, China has never publicly condemned Russia.

Beijing has also strengthened diplomatic and economic relations with Moscow since the Russian offensive in Ukraine began in February 2022.

Despite the differences, Beijing sees Brussels as a more stable and predictable partner than the United States, which has tightened trade restrictions and hostile policy statements toward China in recent years.

“We hope that China-France and China-Europe relations will strengthen each other and develop together,” Xi told Macron and von der Leyen.

On Monday, Xi Jiping began his first visit to Europe since the Covid-19 pandemic to France, which also includes Hungary and Serbia, two countries considered close to China and Russia.