France, China sign several economic agreements

France and China have signed several economic agreements involving major companies in sectors such as transport, energy, agriculture, culture and science during President Emmanuel Macron’s trip to China. Macron arrived in China on Wednesday together with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and over 50 French business leaders from a wide array of industries. The two sides will deepen cooperation in traditional areas such as aviation, aerospace and civilian nuclear energy, and cultivate new growth drivers in cooperation such as green development and scientific and technological innovation, including building a China-France carbon neutrality center and strengthening joint training of talent, Xinhua reported.

I am convinced that China has a major role to play in building peace. This is what I have come to discuss, to move forward on. With President XI Jinping, we will also talk about our businesses, the climate and biodiversity, and food security.

— Emmanuel Macron (@EmmanuelMacron) April 6, 2023

One of the biggest deals that were signed with China will create a new assembly line in French aircraft manufacturer Airbus’ Tianjin factory so the company can double its production capacity of A320 models. The new line is scheduled to be fully operational in 2025. At the same time, Macron and Chinese President Xi Jinping also agreed on cultural matters. The two countries also expressed their wish to facilitate obtaining visas for the mobility of students and teachers working in the scientific field. Meanwhile, von der Leyen declared that the trade relationship between the EU and China is increasingly imbalanced. The EU is becoming more vigilant about protecting its interests and dependencies to ensure a level playing field.