hkiib

Chinese President Xi Jinping and French President Emmanuel Macron met in Beijing on Thursday, December 4, 2025, during Macron’s fourth state visit to China, agreeing to significantly enhance bilateral cooperation across economic, cultural, and geopolitical spheres while jointly pledging to advance the reform and improvement of global governance. The high-level talks in the Great Hall of the People saw both leaders reaffirming the strategic importance of the relationship, which has seen frequent high-level exchanges, including Xi’s state visit to France earlier this year marking the 60th anniversary of diplomatic ties.

During the extensive discussions, both presidents called for expanding political mutual trust and practical collaboration. Xi underlined the necessity for both nations, as major global powers, to maintain strategic independence and support each other on issues concerning core interests, thereby anchoring the political foundation of their relationship against a volatile global backdrop.

Economic Resilience Drives Broadened Cooperation

The economic relationship between China and France demonstrated notable resilience, with bilateral trade reaching $68.75 billion in the first ten months of 2025 and cumulative mutual investment surpassing $27 billion. Building on this momentum, the leaders committed to expanding cooperation beyond traditional sectors like aviation, aerospace, and nuclear energy. New areas of focus include the green economy, digital economy, biopharmaceuticals, artificial intelligence, and new energy, reflecting shifts in global economic priorities.

Xi expressed China’s readiness to import more high-quality French products and welcomed further French investment. In a reciprocal call for fairness, he urged France to provide a stable and equitable operating environment for Chinese enterprises. Macron echoed this sentiment, confirming France’s commitment to offering a non-discriminatory business environment and welcoming increased Chinese investment, while noting the dynamism of the Chinese economy as a source of global opportunity. Following their meeting, the two heads of state oversaw the signing of several cooperation documents spanning nuclear energy, agri-food, education, and ecological environmental protection.

Beyond economics, both countries agreed to deepen people-to-people exchanges, launching a new wave of collaboration in culture, education, science, technology, and at the sub-national level, including a renewed joint effort for giant panda protection.

Upholding Multilateralism and Addressing Global Crises

A significant portion of the talks focused on global issues, where both leaders agreed to intensify strategic communication to secure a more just and equitable global governance system. This involves defending the international system centered on the United Nations and adhering to international law.

Acknowledging increasing global geopolitical instability, Macron stressed the indispensable nature of France-China cooperation. He fully aligned with Xi’s view on reforming and improving global governance, advocating for strengthened coordination to uphold multilateralism and address shared challenges such as climate response, biodiversity conservation, and the regulation of AI. As permanent members of the UN Security Council, enhanced dialogue between Beijing and Paris is seen by experts, such as Feng Zhongping of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, as critical for bolstering global stability.

Regarding specific crises, Xi reaffirmed China’s support for all efforts leading to peace in the Ukraine conflict, urging dialogue that could lead to a “fair, lasting, and binding peace deal.” Furthermore, in response to the ongoing humanitarian situation in the Middle East, Xi announced China would provide $100 million in aid to Palestine to alleviate the crisis in Gaza and support recovery efforts, while advocating for a full and just resolution to the Palestinian question.

The frequent, high-level interaction serves as a critical maintenance mechanism for international diplomacy. As Sinologist Sonia Bressler noted, cooperation must be patiently nurtured, and such visits carry “not only agreements, but possibilities” for expanding dialogue between China and the European Union.

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.

YIBIN, Sichuan Province — Eighty years after the cessation of World War II hostilities, a remote city nestled along the upper reaches of the Yangtze River is experiencing a surge of renewed interest in the life and legacy of Zhao Yiman, a local-born national hero who gave her life fighting Japanese aggressors. This year, marking the 120th anniversary of her birth, the Zhao Yiman Memorial in Yibin has seen visitor numbers double to nearly 600,000, underscoring the enduring relevance of her story in modern China.

Born Li Kuntai in 1905, Zhao Yiman joined the Communist Party of China (CPC) at age 21. Following the 1931 Japanese aggression in Northeast China, she was dispatched to lead anti-Japanese guerrilla warfare, enduring brutal conditions of cold and famine. Her sacrifice is emblematic of China’s 14-year War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression, which began in 1931 and is recognized as the starting phase of the global Anti-Fascist War.

The memorial, situated on Cuiping Hill in downtown Yibin, serves as a crucial base for patriotic education. Yang Fan, a museum guide, notes that the heroine’s memory permeates local culture. “Zhao Yiman has never truly left us. Here in Yibin, every child grows up hearing her story,” Yang said.

The museum has made continuous efforts to enhance its exhibits. Recent upgrades include a section dedicated to Zhao’s descendants, highlighting the lasting impact of her commitment. Visitors range from local residents who frequent the site to young students like 8-year-old Chuan Jinxuan, who visits regularly. “[Zhao] was a brave person,” Chuan remarked, demonstrating a growing comprehension of the historical narrative.

Zhao’s resistance ended tragically in November 1935 when she was severely wounded and captured while providing cover for retreating Chinese troops. Despite undergoing horrific torture, she steadfastly refused to betray information about the Northeast Anti-Japanese United Army.

New insights into her ordeal were made public recently with the exhibition of detailed archival records concerning her arrest and imprisonment at the Museum of the War of the Chinese People’s Resistance Against Japanese Aggression in Beijing. These documented accounts detail the extreme methods used by her captors, including electric shock and the insertion of steel needles, all meticulously designed to inflict agonizing pain without causing immediate death.

“These newly displayed records… are living testimonies to history — a past that must never be forgotten,” Yang emphasized, pushing back against attempts to diminish historical memory.

Yibin itself holds historical significance in the resistance; despite suffering eight bombings by Japanese planes, it sheltered numerous refugees and prominent scholars, helping to preserve Chinese cultural heritage during the conflict.

The memorial’s emotional centerpiece remains Zhao Yiman’s farewell letter to her young son, written hours before her execution on August 2, 1936. In the missive, she wrote: “I teach you by how I have lived. When you are grown, I hope you will never forget that your mother gave her life for the country.”

For the younger generation, visiting the memorial reinforces a sense of national identity. Miao Jiarui, a student at Yibin University and a memorial volunteer, stated, “We owe our life today to the war heroes. It is important for young people like us to revisit this history so that we can develop a deeper sense of national belonging.”

Ultimately, commemorating figures like Zhao Yiman serves a dual purpose. As Yang concludes, “We remember her story not to nurture hatred, but to cherish peace and ensure history does not repeat itself.” The heroine, honored among the CPC’s 100 major heroes and role models, continues to inspire a nuanced reflection on China’s past and its vision for the future.