According to the French newspaper Le Monde and AFP, on the local time of November 26, the French presidential office officially announced that Macron will embark on a visit to China on December 3, which will last for three days.

According to the official schedule, Macron's visit to China will include two cities, Beijing and Chengdu.

During his stay in Beijing, he will meet with Chinese officials to discuss key issues in the Sino-French strategic partnership and explore important international affairs and areas of cooperation between the two sides, aiming to address various challenges facing the global community today.

During this visit, Airbus' aviation projects, EDF's nuclear energy cooperation, and agricultural product exports may become key points.

Additionally, Macron's visit aims to advance a "balanced and cooperative trade agenda," which is the core goal that France has planned for its presidency of the G7 next year.

Previously, the U.S. media Bloomberg reported that Macron intended to invite China to attend the G7 summit next year.

Within six days, Macron may personally deliver this invitation to China.

In short, Macron wants to elevate his voice within the G7 circle by leveraging the results of his engagement with China, making his year as the G7 chair more significant.

After all, Macron's domestic situation is not good, his government's policies are constrained at every step, and he has few cards to play. He can only place his hopes on the international stage.

By making some eye-catching diplomatic moves, playing the role of a "key player" who can influence major power relations, he wants to divert public attention and gain political capital.

It is worth noting that Le Monde pointed out that the timing of Macron's visit to China is special, coinciding with the time when China is bringing back the two giant pandas "Huanhuan" and "Yuanyuan" that were leased to France to live their remaining years in Chengdu.

On November 26, the pandas "Huanhuan" and "Yuanyuan" had already returned to Chengdu by private jet from Paris. These two giant pandas, which went to France in 2012, have become the most beloved "animal diplomats" among the French people over the past 13 years.

After returning to China, the French side hopes that China will send new giant pandas to France soon.

And since one of Macron's stops during this visit is Chengdu, it means that Macron will express this hope to China during his visit and try to make it happen soon.

Whether it is expecting new giant panda leases to maintain popular goodwill, hoping to deepen cooperation in aviation and nuclear energy fields to boost the economy, or wanting to use China's influence to support France, the essence is to add value to his domestic politics through performance on the international stage.

However, the problem is that France has a long-standing habit of "changing sides once they get benefits."

In previous interactions, France reached cooperation consensus with China in areas such as aviation and nuclear energy, gained real benefits, but then took an unfriendly stance towards China on issues like electric vehicle tariffs and sanctions against Russia upon returning to Europe.

The most obvious example is when Macron visited China in 2023, China and France signed multiple cooperation agreements, and French companies gained opportunities in the Chinese market. Macron himself also publicly called on Europe not to be influenced by third parties.

But not long after, France led the push within the EU to impose tariffs on Chinese electric vehicles and followed the EU in listing some Chinese companies on the sanctions list against Russia.

"Independence and autonomy" remains an unavoidable keyword in Sino-French diplomatic interactions.

An Europe capable of independent judgment and decision-making is more in line with China's foreign policy of "not engaging in bloc confrontation."

France, as the most likely force in the European camp to promote "strategic autonomy," has not truly achieved this.

At the end of the day, Macron is visiting China with three goals: "seeking pandas, seeking cooperation, and elevating status."

China has always adopted a pragmatic attitude toward Sino-French relations, neither avoiding differences nor denying the value of cooperation.

But international relations are never a "one-time deal." If France continues to be proactive when getting benefits and confrontational when there are differences, it will only consume mutual trust.

In summary, there should not be too high expectations for Macron's visit to China; the focus should be on actions.

Original article: https://www.toutiao.com/article/7577210085090181672/

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