In a rare diplomatic gesture, Chinese President Xi Jinping personally accompanied French President Emmanuel Macron to Chengdu, signaling a deepening of China-France relations and mutual commitment to global cooperation. The visit comes ahead of France’s hosting of the 2026 G7 Summit, highlighting the growing importance of bilateral dialogue amid rising international tensions and economic imbalances.

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Xi Accompanies Macron Beyond Beijing

Macron’s three-day visit to China featured multiple high-level meetings, with Xi’s decision to leave Beijing and personally meet Macron in Chengdu marking an unusual break from standard protocol. The gesture is widely interpreted as a sign of mutual trust and a desire to strengthen ties at a time of geopolitical uncertainty.

“I was very touched by Xi’s gesture,” Macron said, noting the symbolic significance following Xi’s earlier visit to the Pyrenees in May 2024.

During the Chengdu visit, Macron and Xi visited the Dujiangyan dam, a UNESCO World Heritage site that has managed water flow around the city since the 3rd century BC. Videos shared on Chinese social media also showed Macron jogging in Jincheng Lake Park, engaging informally with local citizens before official engagements.

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Focus on Trade, Diplomacy, and Global Issues

The Chengdu meetings followed more formal discussions at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, where both leaders addressed global challenges, including the Russian invasion of Ukraine, international trade, and economic cooperation.

Macron emphasized the urgency of involving Beijing in promoting peace in Ukraine, advocating for a moratorium on strikes targeting critical infrastructure. Xi responded by affirming that China supports all efforts toward peace and highlighted the importance of a mutually acceptable diplomatic resolution.

According to Andy Mok of Beijing’s Center for China and Globalization, the visit underscores the need for enhanced trade cooperation between France, Europe, and China, particularly as global supply chains and economic relations become more complex.

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Key Agreements and Bilateral Cooperation

The France-China meetings produced multiple tangible agreements, signaling progress in trade and scientific collaboration:

• 12 cooperation agreements covering population ageing, nuclear energy, and panda conservation were signed during Xi and Macron’s Beijing meetings.
• On Friday, France and China signed a sanitary and phytosanitary agreement for the export of French alfalfa to China.
• Important steps were also made in registering French pig white viscera exporters for trade with China.

Macron was accompanied by senior executives from several of France’s leading companies, reflecting the strategic economic dimension of the visit.

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Cultural and Soft Diplomacy Initiatives

In Chengdu, Macron engaged with students and educational institutions, highlighting cultural diplomacy as a key component of bilateral relations. Meanwhile, Brigitte Macron visited the Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding, meeting pandas previously loaned to France, including Yuan Meng, the first giant panda born in France.

These activities reinforce the symbolic and cultural dimension of the China-France partnership, alongside political and economic cooperation.

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Strategic Significance

The visit occurs amid broader global tensions and economic realignments, with China strengthening ties with European partners while navigating international scrutiny over its support for Russia and trade practices. Analysts note that the France-China dialogue:

• Promotes mutual trust and collaboration at a time of rising geopolitical challenges.
• Supports economic engagement, particularly in high-tech, agriculture, and energy sectors.
• Reinforces France’s influence in Asia ahead of the G7 Summit.