BEIJING — Chinese President Xi Jinping and French President Emmanuel Macron met in Beijing on Thursday, December 4, 2025, to deepen the comprehensive strategic partnership between their nations, stressing the need for expanded cooperation across economic sectors and renewed commitment to multilateralism in a period of significant global change and uncertainty.
During their talks at the Great Hall of the People, President Xi called for China and France to seize emerging opportunities to solidify traditional areas of collaboration while pioneering new growth fields. He characterized both nations as independent and responsible major countries, essential for promoting a multipolar world and fostering global solidarity. Given what he termed “changes unseen in a century,” Xi urged China and France to stand on the side of history by upholding multilateral principles and safeguarding the political foundation of their bilateral relationship, particularly concerning each other’s core interests.
France’s President Macron affirmed the importance of the relationship, noting the sustained high-level exchanges and mutual trust. He reiterated France’s firm support for the one-China policy and expressed a desire to continue deepening the strategic partnership. Macron welcomed the dynamism of the Chinese economy, highlighting its role in creating global opportunities, and pledged to provide a fair and non-discriminatory business environment for Chinese enterprises investing in France.
Economic and Strategic Alignment
Both leaders targeted expanding collaboration beyond established areas such as aviation, aerospace, and nuclear energy. Future strategic efforts will focus on high-growth sectors, including the green economy, digital economy, biopharmaceuticals, artificial intelligence, and new energy. Xi also expressed China’s willingness to increase imports of high-quality French products and welcomed more French businesses to the Chinese market, contingent on France offering a stable and equitable environment for Chinese enterprises.
Xi leveraged the recent adoption of recommendations for China’s 15th Five-Year Plan, positioning it as a “list of opportunities” for the world. He emphasized that openness and cooperation bring development, warning that “decoupling and severing supply chains will lead to isolation,” a direct critique of protectionist efforts.
Upholding Multilateralism and Global Governance
The discussions underscored shared responsibility in navigating global challenges. Both China and France, as founding members and permanent members of the UN Security Council, committed to practicing true multilateralism and upholding the UN-centered international system.
Macron fully agreed with Xi on the necessity of reforming global governance for a more balanced global economy. Xi noted current global imbalances, specifically uneven development between the North and South and inadequate representation of developing countries in international financial institutions.
On geopolitical flashpoints, the leaders exchanged views on the Ukraine crisis. Xi reiterated China’s support for all peace-conducive efforts and pledged to continue playing a constructive role in a political settlement, supporting European countries in establishing a balanced and sustainable security architecture.
Following the talks, the two heads of state oversaw the signing of several cooperation documents spanning nuclear energy, agri-food, education, and ecological environment. The meeting signals a mutual commitment to fortify the long-term ties between two major global powers, demonstrating that strategic cooperation is paramount in addressing both economic shifts and escalating geopolitical complexity.