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The Limits of Charm Diplomacy in the Sino-French Entente

Sunday, 07 December 2025 12:54

Summary

French President Emmanuel Macron's state visit to Beijing in December 2025 was characterised by an extraordinary display of personal diplomacy from Chinese President Xi Jinping, including a rare joint trip to Chengdu. This high-level symbolism underscored China's strategy to cultivate Paris as a key partner within the European Union amidst rising geopolitical tensions. Despite the cordiality, the visit yielded few major commercial breakthroughs, with a long-anticipated Airbus order remaining unsigned and the French delegation expressing concern over the growing trade imbalance. The two nations did, however, issue significant joint statements on global governance, climate change, and the peaceful use of nuclear energy, reaffirming their commitment to multilateralism and cooperation in emerging sectors like artificial intelligence and the green economy. The discussions highlighted the persistent strategic friction, particularly over the war in Ukraine and China's call for France to maintain its 'strategic vision and independence' from the United States.

The Personal Touch of Statecraft

The state visit of French President Emmanuel Macron to the People's Republic of China in December 2025 was framed by an unusual degree of personal diplomacy, a deliberate choice by Beijing to elevate the bilateral relationship with Europe’s second-largest economy8,9. Chinese President Xi Jinping extended a rare courtesy by accompanying his French counterpart to Chengdu, the capital of Sichuan province, a gesture seldom afforded to visiting foreign leaders outside of the capital3,8,9,12. This symbolic display, which included strolls through a city park and visits to historic infrastructure sites, was widely interpreted as an effort to strengthen China’s diplomatic image and influence within the European Union8,9. The visit, Macron’s fourth state trip to the country, came at a moment of profound global turbulence, with economic fragmentation accelerating and unilateralism gaining new momentum4,19. For Beijing, nurturing friendly ties with Paris serves as a potential avenue to influence the broader EU’s internal debates on trade and foreign policy9,10. The French delegation, which included a large contingent of top executives and ministers, signalled Paris’s intent to strengthen business and political ties despite rising trade tensions between China and Europe14,19. The French president’s schedule also included an appearance at Sichuan University, where he was welcomed enthusiastically by students who chanted his name in Chinese, ‘Makelong’3. During his address, Macron cautioned the students against succumbing to the ‘sirens of division,’ referencing the faults in the world order and the division into geopolitical blocs3. Analysts suggested the high-profile international engagement also served a domestic purpose for Macron, allowing him to project global leadership following a challenging period in French domestic politics3,8,10.

The Unbalanced Ledger of Trade

The economic dimension of the visit was dominated by the persistent issue of the trade imbalance, a growing source of friction between Paris and Beijing5,11. France’s trade deficit with China has been a mounting concern for the Macron administration, with the country being China’s seventh-largest trading partner5. The French president cautioned his counterpart that the accumulating imbalances were ‘not sustainable’ and carried the risk of triggering a financial crisis, urging a shift toward fairer, rules-based economic governance5,11. Despite the presence of top executives from major French companies, including Airbus, BNP Paribas, and Schneider Electric, the visit yielded limited concrete commercial results8,11,14. A long-anticipated order for a package of up to 500 Airbus jets, a key expectation for the French delegation, was not signed5,8,9,11. Observers suggested that China’s leadership was unwilling to approve such a major industrial decision, as it would reduce Beijing’s leverage in ongoing trade negotiations with the United States, which is simultaneously pressing for new Boeing commitments8,10,11. In total, the two leaders signed only 12 cooperation agreements, with no monetary value disclosed3,5,9,10. These agreements covered a modest range of sectors, including population ageing, nuclear energy, and wildlife conservation, notably a promise for China to send two new giant pandas to France by 20273,5,10. France also sought to address China’s export controls on critical raw materials, which are essential for European car and semiconductor industries and put pressure on the entire European Union5,11,18. Both sides did agree to strengthen cooperation in traditional fields like aviation, aerospace, and civil nuclear energy, while also tapping into emerging areas such as the green economy, digital economy, biopharmaceuticals, and artificial intelligence13,16,17,20. China’s Premier Li Qiang stated that Beijing was willing to import more high-quality French products and welcomed French enterprises, while simultaneously hoping France would provide a fair and stable business environment for Chinese companies13,17,20.

A Joint Stance on Climate and Nuclear Energy

One of the most substantive outcomes of the visit was the joint commitment to strengthen cooperation on global climate and environmental challenges7,15. The two nations issued a joint statement vowing to enhance their collective response to climate change, including accelerating efforts toward carbon neutrality and expanding collaboration on green technology7,15. This commitment comes at a time when climate urgency demands concrete solutions, and cooperation between the two major economies is seen as a model for broader China-EU relations4. The joint statement outlined plans to enhance dialogue on complex topics such as carbon pricing, climate investment and financing, methane emissions, and methodologies for calculating carbon footprints7. Furthermore, the two countries reaffirmed their commitment to the peaceful use of nuclear energy, a traditional area of Franco-Chinese cooperation15,16. A joint declaration on civil nuclear cooperation emphasised the role of nuclear power as a clean and reliable source of baseload power for addressing climate change and energy security16. The agreement included sharing experience in the construction and operation of Generation III reactors, the life extension of existing plants, and the management of radioactive waste16. Both nations also committed to working together on new technologies, including small modular reactors (SMRs), and to continue their participation in the International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor (Iter) nuclear fusion project in southern France16. The cooperation in this sector is intended to support a ‘stable and resilient’ nuclear supply chain, including coordination on nuclear fuel supply and uranium resource security16.

Geopolitical Fault Lines and Strategic Autonomy

The diplomatic discussions also addressed the most pressing geopolitical conflicts, including the war in Ukraine and the situation in Palestine7,12,15. On Ukraine, Macron pressed his Chinese counterpart to use Beijing’s influence to secure, at the very least, a ceasefire and a moratorium on strikes targeting critical infrastructure5. While China and France issued a joint statement on the situation, Xi Jinping maintained Beijing’s long-stated position of working toward peace, having previously reaffirmed support for Russia5,8,10. Analysts noted that the Chinese leadership avoided offering any diplomatic breakthrough on the conflict, signalling the limits of bilateral influence on this core strategic issue8,10. The visit also served as a platform for China to subtly push its agenda of a multipolar world and for France to maintain its independence6,10,20. Xi Jinping underscored that regardless of how the external environment changes, both nations should consistently demonstrate the ‘strategic vision and independence of a major country’11,20. This statement was widely interpreted as a call for France to resist being fully absorbed into Washington’s containment strategy against China19. Macron, in turn, urged Beijing to cooperate on geopolitics and environment as the European Union seeks China’s help in ending the war in Ukraine10. The two leaders also exchanged views on the need to reform and improve global governance, with France fully agreeing with Xi’s views on promoting a more balanced global economy15,20. The discussions also touched upon the need to maintain stability in the Taiwan Strait, with France aiming to prevent escalation18.

Conclusion

The December 2025 state visit reinforced the Franco-Chinese relationship as a crucial, yet complex, pillar of the EU-China dynamic. The extraordinary personal welcome extended by President Xi Jinping to President Macron successfully achieved a high degree of diplomatic symbolism, underscoring Beijing’s strategy to cultivate Paris as a key partner in its engagement with Europe8,9. This warmth, however, masked the underlying strategic and economic friction that continues to define the relationship8,11. The failure to secure a major commercial deal, such as the anticipated Airbus order, highlighted the limits of charm diplomacy when confronted with China’s broader geopolitical and trade leverage, particularly in its ongoing negotiations with the United States5,11. Ultimately, the most tangible outcomes were found in the joint statements on global challenges, where both nations reaffirmed their commitment to multilateralism and expanded cooperation in the critical areas of climate change, nuclear energy, and emerging technologies like artificial intelligence7,15,16. The visit served as a necessary, high-level dialogue to manage a relationship increasingly defined by a delicate balance: France’s need to rebalance trade and protect its strategic interests, and China’s desire to maintain influence in Europe while pushing for a foreign policy independent of American alignment18,20.

References

  1. Macron in China: Many meetings, few results

    Supports details on the limited number of agreements (12), the areas of cooperation (ageing, nuclear, panda conservation), the rare gesture of Xi accompanying Macron to Chengdu, and the student reception at Sichuan University.

  2. China–France cooperation: Why Macron's visit matters more than ever

    Provides context on the visit's timing amidst global turbulence, the faltering globalisation, and the expectation of substantive outcomes across diplomacy, economics, technology, and culture.

  3. State visit: Tough struggle between Macron and Xi

    Details the lack of progress on the Airbus order, the trade deficit concern, China's export controls on raw materials, the 12 cooperation agreements, and Macron's call for a ceasefire in Ukraine.

  4. Macron urges Xi to Boost Cooperation, Trade Balance During Beijing Visit

    Confirms Macron's three-fold agenda (geopolitical stability, economic rebalancing, environmental sustainability) and Xi's emphasis on France demonstrating 'independence and strategic vision'.

  5. Joint Statement between the French Republic and the People's Republic of China on Cooperation in Addressing Global Climate and Environmental Challenges.

    Directly supports the details of the joint statement on climate cooperation, including carbon neutrality, green technology, carbon pricing, and the joint statements on Ukraine and Palestine.

  6. Xi–Macron Meet Highlights Optics Over Outcomes

    Provides analysis on the symbolic nature of the visit, the rare personal welcome in Chengdu, the limited concrete results, the lack of major commercial announcements, and the absence of a diplomatic breakthrough on Ukraine.

  7. Xi Jinping Hosts Macron in Chengdu, But Tangible Deals Remain Elusive

    Confirms the rare gesture of personal diplomacy in Chengdu, the limited concrete economic agreements, the 12 cooperation agreements, and the unfulfilled expectation of a large Airbus order.

  8. Key takeaways from Xi,Macron meeting at China

    Details the 12 cooperation agreements, the panda diplomacy, the lack of major business deals, the unlikelihood of the Airbus order due to US trade leverage, and the divergence on the Ukraine war.

  9. Macron Seeks China's Help on Global Trade, Geopolitics and Climate

    Supports the French goal of reducing the trade deficit, the concern over the widening EU deficit, the lack of the 500-jet Airbus order, and Xi's call for France to demonstrate 'independence and strategic vision'.

  10. Xi and Macron have friendly exchanges in China's Chengdu

    Confirms the dates of the visit (Dec 3-5, 2025), the joint statements on global governance, climate, nuclear energy, agriculture, Ukraine, and Palestine, and the personal exchanges in Chengdu.

  11. Chinese premier meets with French President

    Details Premier Li Qiang's comments on strengthening cooperation in traditional fields (aviation, nuclear) and emerging areas (AI, green development, silver economy), and China's willingness to import more French products.

  12. Macron eyes energy cooperation, Airbus deals and 'pandas' on China visit | World News

    Confirms the large delegation of CEOs, the focus on energy cooperation, and the presence of the Airbus CEO, highlighting the high expectations for a major aircraft deal.

  13. China, France Share Views On Global Governance, Climate Action, And Nuclear Energy

    Details the joint statements on global governance, climate and environmental cooperation (carbon neutrality, green technology, biodiversity), and the peaceful use of nuclear energy.

  14. France And China Agree To 'Pragmatic Cooperation' On Nuclear Energy

    Provides specific details on the joint declaration on civil nuclear cooperation, including Generation III reactors, SMRs, nuclear fuel supply, and the Iter fusion project.

  15. Xinhua Headlines: Chinese, French leaders vow to strengthen bilateral cooperation

    Supports the expansion of cooperation into green economy, digital economy, biopharmaceuticals, and AI, and Xi's comments on importing French products and providing a fair environment for Chinese enterprises.

  16. Macron Visits China as Europe Balances Economic Ties and Security Concerns

    Provides context on Europe's delicate position, the concern over Chinese exports (EVs, steel), France's goal to protect the EV sector, and the discussion on stability in the Taiwan Strait.

  17. France's Macron in China with Beijing expecting 'change of attitude' from Europe, says expert

    Confirms the visit as Macron's fourth state visit, the large delegation, and the analysis that the trip shows Europe wants to maintain dialogue and avoid being absorbed into Washington's containment strategy.

  18. President Xi Jinping Holds Talks with French President Emmanuel Macron_Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the People's Republic of China

    Provides Xi's official comments on China and France being 'independent, visionary and responsible major countries,' the call for France to demonstrate 'strategic vision and independence,' and the agreement on AI governance and a more balanced global economy.