The two countries announced their support for an Olympic truce that covers all conflicts during the next Paris Games, which would also allow progress in the search for solutions.
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The Olympic truce, visa facilitation for the Chinese people and possible agreements on cognac were the topics highlighted this Monday on the first day of Chinese President Xi Jinping’s visit to France, according to a press release.
In a joint statement following a meeting in which they discussed global international issues and bilateral trade relations, French President Emmanuel Macron announced the two countries’ support for an Olympic truce that covers all conflicts during the next Paris Gameswhich would also allow progress in the search for solutions.
“We think that an Olympic truce for all war scenarios can be an opportunity to work on lasting solutions with full respect for international law,” Macron said, referring to the sporting event that took place in the French capital in July and August and to the of which 16 million visitors are expected.
The French government also announced this Monday that Facilitate the issuance of visas for Chinese business travelers and tourists visiting France.a day before the meeting of the interministerial tourism committee (CIT) with Prime Minister Gabriel Attal.
France is the world’s leading tourist destination, according to the World Tourism Organization, having received 100 million foreign visitors last year, who spent a record total of 63.5 billion euros.
This Monday, several commercial contracts were signed between French and Chinese companies on the occasion of Xi’s visit, particularly in the energy, transport and finance sectors, the Elysée announced.
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Among the contracts announced is one for the French group Suez to build an electricity production plant from biomass in southern China, for almost 100 million euros.
Railway builder Alstom also won contracts to supply electric traction systems for Beijing, Wuhan and Hefei subway lines. On the financial side, The insurer Groupama will create a “joint venture” with the Shudao Group “in green finance”.
Other less advanced commercial agreements involve Schneider Electric to install electric vehicle charging points, or between Crédit Agricole and the Bank of China to “facilitate joint operations.”
Hours earlier, the French Minister of Economy and Finance, Bruno Le Maire, defended a “solid and balanced economic partnership” between France and China, still “far” from being achieved this Monday to the detriment of Paris.
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France registered a trade deficit of around 46 billion euros with China in 2023, while the The European Union reached around 300 billion.
According to a list of gifts offered to the Chinese president, consulted by the AFP news agency, Macron gave a bottle of Hennessy XO cognac and a decanter of Rémy Martin “Louis XIII” cognac.
“I would also like to thank the president for his candor regarding the provisional measures on French cognac and his wish that they not be applied,” Macron added about the French alcoholic beverage that is the subject of an anti-dumping investigation initiated by the Chinese. authorities.
In Paris, Xi was also offered works by Victor Hugo, as well as the first French-Chinese dictionary, published in 1742, and a vase “flattened on both sides, carved, in multilayer glass,” from a glassworks in Amboise ( Indre and Loire).
Source: Observadora
