China hopes France can help take heat out of relations with EU
Send a link to a friend
[July 29, 2023]
By Joe Cash
BEIJING (Reuters) -China hopes France can "stabilize the tone" of
EU-China relations, vice-premier He Lifeng told a senior French minister
in Beijing on Saturday, as European leaders debate how to "de-risk" but
also cooperate with the world's second-largest economy.
He also told Economy Minister Bruno Le Maire that China is willing to
deepen cooperation with France in traditional areas such as finance as
well as in science and technological innovation, in contrast with
Beijing's more cautious though candid talks with visiting top U.S.
officials.
"It is hoped that France will stabilize the tone of friendly cooperation
between China and the EU," He said in opening remarks before an
afternoon of discussions at Beijing's Diaoyutai State Guest house,
adding that China believes its bilateral ties with France "have a good
foundation".
While recent visits to China by U.S. Secretary of State Anthony Blinken
and Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen hinged on talk of "decoupling",
France's top trade official suggested a "deadline of the end of 2024 to
reinforce our economic and financial operations", ahead of the two
countries' ninth Economic and Financial Dialogue.
China is France's third largest trade partner behind the European Union
and the United States, but French firms are becoming increasingly
concerned they could get caught in the crossfire of rising rivalry
between the world's two economic superpowers.
European Union governments last month also approved an 11th tranche of
sanctions against Russia that could hit Chinese firms considered to be
circumventing measures already in place.
[to top of second column]
|
China's Vice Premier He Lifeng and
French Economy and Finance Minister Bruno Le Maire attend the
China-France Economic and Financial Dialogue at the Diaoyutai State
Guesthouse in Beijing, China, July 29, 2023. REUTERS/Thomas Peter
Le Maire said the three challenges the two countries should work
together on are the green transition, reorganization of value
chains, and technological revolution, while also raising market
access issues for French companies in the banking, nuclear,
cosmetics and agricultural industries.
"It is essential to think about the expansion and deepening of
economic and financial cooperation between France and China," La
Maire said. "We would like to welcome major new investments from
China to French territory."
In a news conference after the discussions, Le Maire said important
advances had been made in French-Chinese relations in the cosmetics,
aerospace, food and beverages, and finance sectors, while He said
the Chinese side appreciated France's decision to extend Huawei 5G
licenses in some cities.
China's He told his guests the meeting was a "positive signal that
China and France will work together to address challenges and inject
stability into an uncertain world", which has "accelerated into a
new situation of instability and uncertainty" not seen in 100 years.
(Reporting by Joe Cash; Additional reporting by Layli Foroudi in
Paris and Liz Lee in Beijing Editing by Lincoln Feast and Giles
Elgood)
[© 2023 Thomson Reuters. All rights
reserved.]This material may not be published,
broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
Thompson Reuters is solely responsible for this content. |