Xi Jinping (3rd L) meets with French President Francois Hollande (5th R) in Beijing, capital of China, April 25, 2013.Photo: Xinhua" src="http://www.globaltimes.cn/Portals/0/attachment/2011/b00f1e74-1951-4a18-b7a7-c4d3f3144143.jpg">

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Top agenda of Hollande's China visit Source: cntv.cn

Chinese, French presidents hold talks Chinese President Xi Jinping held talks with his French counterpart Francois Hollande here on Thursday. Hollande's China visit highlights significance of ties As China rolled out the red carpet Thursday for French President Francois Hollande, it is evident that the two countries hold dear their relations.

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The Visit

Time:  April 25, 26

Places: Beijing, Shanghai

Topic highlight: Trade and economy

Sign agreements on nuclear power plant construction and Chinese purchases of Airbus planes.

Negotiate on a proposed automobile factory in Wuhan, Hubei Province.

More cooperation: 
 Medical care and health
 Finance
 Agriculture
 Food processing
 Environmental protection

Commentary

 On bilateral ties

Xinhua

Hollande's appearance will surely boost mutual political trust, mutual benefit and win-win cooperation between China and France. It will also lift bilateral ties to a new level.

Kong Quan, Chinese Ambassador to France

The visit of French President Francois Hollande to China will further cement the comprehensive strategic partnership between China and France, providing new opportunities for the two sides to achieve common development under new circumstances.

China.com.cn

The main problem facing China and France is the relationship between East and West. Whether or not France and all of Europe can finally admit the Western world is no longer in control and forge ties with China and a rising Asia is not only an historical issue, but one that will largely affect the future. 

In the era where Eastern and Western power is restricted, China and France need to build a new relationship. France can serve as a bridge between the interests of the East and West, which would ultimately reinvigorate Sino-France relations.

 On the significance of the visit

Shen Jiru, a researcher with the Institute of World Economics and Politics of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences

"The unsolved eurozone crisis has made it difficult for Hollande to fulfill his pledge to voters to get France's economy back in shape in two years; and turning to China would be a good solution."

Cui Hongjian, director of the Department of EU Studies at the China Institute of International Studies

Hollande is not visiting merely to renew friendships, but to continue his economic diplomacy campaign, which includes expanding France's foreign trade and attract investment from China. This way, Hollande can help France develop its economy while winning public support.

During his previous visits to Europe and Africa, Hollande advocated the idea of "diplomacy serving the economy". France will not only promote economic diplomacy among those African nations with which it still shares ties, but has also set its sights on Asia, especially China.

Ding Yuanhong, former Chinese ambassador to the EU

Hollande's visit does not only consider the economy, but more importantly, politics. His trip symbolizes how China is key to French diplomacy. This visit has historical significance, as Hollande wants to build friendships with China's new leaders and foster mutual trust.

 On trade imbalance debate

Jonathan Holslag, an expert on Sino-European relations at the Free University of Brussels China has more or less got what it wants from the bilateral relationship, but France has so far struggled to reap the rewards of Chinese growth.  French Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius There is indeed a trade imbalance between the two countries, but it should be addressed through growth by boosting two-way investment and enhancing further trade.

Shen Jiru, a researcher with the Institute of World Economics and Politics of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences France leads the world in many high-tech areas and if they could manage to end their ban on high-tech exports to China, the trade imbalance would definitely be reversed. This would be a win-win situation as French companies could also boost their investment in China. Xinhua For those with concerns about "imbalanced China-France trade," they may also find solace in China's growing domestic demand as the country endeavors to divert its economic engines from investment and export to consumption.

China-France Relations

 Diplomatic ties

France: the first Western country that established diplomatic ties with China in 1964 and Paris has long placed relations with Beijing as a priority of its diplomatic policy.

Hollande: the first leader of a major Western power to visit Beijing since China's new leadership took office.

 Business

Official figures showed that in January, the two-way trade volume reached 4.18 billion dollars, up 5.3 percent from last year. China's imports from France stood at 1.83 billion dollars, up 25.5 percent year on year.

 Culture

Several former French presidents, including Charles de Gaulle, Valery Giscard D'estaing and Jacques Chirac, are household names in China, either for their political courage or for their amazing understanding of the Chinese culture.

News Vocab

经济外交 jīngjì wàijiāo 

Economic diplomacy

“经济外交” refers to heads of state or government, various department officials and foreign missions developing multilateral and bilateral relations surrounding international economic issues through official visits, negotiations, treaties, international conferences and international economic organizations.

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