On December 4, 2025, Chinese President Xi Jinping rolled out the red carpet for the visit by French President Emmanuel Macron to Beijing. Their historic summit was to deepen their bilateral relations and address shared urgent global challenges. The first half of the meeting centered around U. S.-China trade relations, including an increasingly lopsided trade imbalance, Taiwan Relations and the War in Ukraine.
Notably, President Xi emphasized the value of multilateralism throughout their talks. He encouraged his French counterpart to stand against the movement towards decoupling, pointing out that such a move would create havoc. He made a strong case that collaboration between countries is key to a stable, successful world. Xi’s auspicious message underscored China’s commitment to working together with France. He stated the need for the US to collaborate with other countries to provide economic growth and foster international relations.
The partnerships and collaboration formed at the summit created dozens of agreements. These treaties are described primarily in terms of increasing bilateral trade. President Xi promised to import more high quality products from France, a move analysts say is mutually beneficial to both economies. This commitment will be instrumental in helping to offset French trade deficits while opening new opportunities for French companies within the lucrative Chinese market.
Trade imbalances, especially with China, were a large part of the discussion, with both leaders recognizing the need for fair and balanced trade. While Macron was troubled by those disparities, he was happy enough to see the opportunity for better cooperation. The discussions touched upon critical geopolitical issues, including the situation in Ukraine and its broader implications for Europe and Asia.
The issue of Taiwan was another major theme throughout the summit, illustrating the increased tensions in the region. During the announcement, both leaders emphasized their interest in nonviolent solutions to local tensions. To exclude the Taiwan issue equates to denying China’s sovereignty over Taiwan, said Xi. Macron’s approach to this sensitive issue highlights France’s commitment to maintaining dialogue while advocating for stability in the Indo-Pacific region.