France and China look back on landmark anniversary year

CGTN Europe

France and China spent 2024 celebrating 60 years of diplomatic relationships – and the highlight of the anniversary year was the visit to France in May by Chinese president Xi Jinping.

Transcript

00:00Toasting a landmark year, the French and Chinese presidents cheering the 60-year anniversary

00:07of formally establishing bilateral ties, Xi Jinping paid a state visit to France this

00:12year in the run-up to the Paris Olympic Games, after Emmanuel Macron visited China in 2023.

00:20During Xi's visit, the French leader hailed the work done by both sides to calm international

00:25tensions.

00:26On the basis of this convergence of views, we believe together that an Olympic Troops

00:31for all the theatres of war can be an opportunity to work towards a lasting solution in full

00:37respect of international law.

00:39And I thank you, Mr. President, for having brightly shown during our meeting your willingness

00:44to commit yourself in the same direction, which will consist in calling on all the parties

00:48involved for an Olympic Troops during our forthcoming Games.

00:53Xi's two-day visit took place in May, and it was full of pomp and ceremony, along with

00:57serious political dialogue.

00:59There was also time for a less formal event.

01:02Macron invited Xi to the Pyrenees for music and lunch in the mountains.

01:07Yet despite the celebratory atmosphere this year, analysts say the Franco-Chinese relationship

01:13is not balanced.

01:18From the commercial point of view, there's an absolutely enormous deficit compared with

01:22China, and there are points of contention economically with the European Union generally,

01:27and with France specifically as regards China.

01:30So we're starting a new year which will undoubtedly be rather difficult, but precisely because

01:35it's an anniversary year, we hope that both parties will continue to get along.

01:41The areas of tension this year included the introduction of EU tariffs on Chinese EV imports.

01:47The European Commission says it was to counter unfair subsidies, and France voted in favour

01:52of the measures.

01:54This year, China introduced commercial restrictions on the imports of French brandy.

01:58Beijing said the move was aimed at protecting domestic producers, but many in Europe saw

02:03it as a response to the EU's tariffs.

02:09There have been cultural elements to this anniversary year.

02:12China's National Traditional Orchestra staged a joint performance with France's Royal Opera

02:17Orchestra at the Golden Palace of Versailles, and a Tang Dynasty exhibition is currently

02:22being held at France's National Museum of Asian Arts.

02:27And both Paris and Beijing will be hoping to elevate their endeavours at a political

02:31and cultural level in 2025.

02:34Ross Cullen, CGTN, Paris.

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