The message of congratulations that Xi Jinping sent to Emmanuel Macron on Monday April 25 is not only ceremonial. According to the New China Agency, the Chinese president stressed that relations between the two countries are characterized by “independence, mutual understanding, foresight, mutual benefit and mutually beneficial results”. Independence is mentioned twice in the press release. Due to its rivalry with the United States, China regularly supports “strategic autonomy” put forward by the French president.
The editorial of Global Times, Tuesday, April 26, proves it. The nationalist daily also congratulates Mr. Macron. “Improving China-France relations is consistent with strengthening Europe’s strategic autonomy. We congratulate Macron on his re-election and hope that China-France relations can continue to progress and China-EU relations can continue to progress steadily during his second term,” writes the newspaper, subsidiary of the very official China Daily. This one devotes, Tuesday, one of its three editorials to France. “China is ready to work with the French side to push the bilateral relationship to a new level,” writes the newspaper.
Beijing knows that France played an important role, alongside Germany, to enable the conclusion of the investment agreement (CAI) between China and the European Union at the end of 2020. China even hoped – apparently in vain – that the French presidency of the European Union, during this semester, would enable its ratification by the European Parliament to be unblocked. Moreover, if Germany is China’s leading economic partner in Europe, Beijing knows that two of the three parties in the ruling coalition in Berlin – the Greens and the Liberals – are hostile to it. The visit to Japan that Chancellor Olaf Scholz is due to make this week also risks being perceived by Beijing as distancing itself from Berlin. All the more reason not to neglect the Sino-French relationship.
Statement without effusion
Ni Xi Jinping, ni le Global Times, ni le China Daily mention France’s Indo-Pacific strategy, a bone of contention between the two countries. China wants a France strong enough not to blindly follow Washington, but weak enough not to thwart its own ambitions.
In the Chinese press release, Xi Jinping does not mention at any time his personal relationship with Emmanuel Macron. It is not always the same. On April 5, the day after the victory of Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic, known for his nationalism and his closeness to Vladimir Putin, Xi Jinping not only congratulated him, but also specified that he “appreciates his good working relationship and his friendship with President Vucic”. A few days later, six Chinese military planes landed in Belgrade to deliver surface-to-air anti-aircraft defense batteries to Serbia.
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