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Xi Jinping and Emmanuel Macron are set to hold talks on Monday, with trade tensions shaping up to be a central theme of the Chinese president’s first trip to Europe in five years.
Ahead of the state visit, in which the Chinese leader is expected to dine with his French counterpart on Monday evening at the Élysée Palace before visiting the Pyrenees on Tuesday, Xi held out the prospect of greater access to China’s market for French exports such as cosmetics and agricultural goods.
“We welcome more quality French farm products and cosmetics to the Chinese market to meet the ever-growing needs of the Chinese people for a better life,” Xi wrote in a signed article in French newspaper Le Figaro that was reprinted in English by the Communist party mouthpiece People’s Daily.
The EU has opened a series of anti-subsidy investigations into Chinese products over fears that industrial overcapacity in China could lead to dumping, especially of electric vehicles, batteries, solar panels and other green energy-related goods, on the bloc’s markets.
France has indicated it will closely scrutinise Chinese EV imports, last year launching a package of measures tying its subsidies and tax credits for the industry to environmental restrictions that favour European manufacturers.
Xi’s comments on cosmetics in particular may be aimed at wooing a sector of European manufacturing that has become increasingly concerned about market access in China.
European cosmetics producers have complained that new regulations on everything from animal testing to labelling are either too vague or impractical and are slowing their ability to sell into the Chinese market.
European companies operating in China argue in general that authorities in the country are increasingly imposing administrative barriers across multiple sectors in the market.
Chinese authorities deny that their industries are in “oversupply” and have called accusations western “hype” aimed at justifying protectionism. Beijing has implemented various packages aimed at encouraging foreign investment.
In addition to Macron, Xi is expected to meet European Commission head Ursula von der Leyen in Paris on Monday. Von der Leyen has been a strong advocate of “de-risking” Europe’s commercial relationship with China.
Chinese state media provided blanket coverage of Xi’s visit to France, which is expected to be followed by trips to Serbia and Hungary, countries seen as more closely aligned with Beijing.
Chinese commentators have highlighted remarks that Macron made last year after visiting China that Europe should forge its own strategic independence and become a “third pole” in geopolitics, autonomous of Beijing and Washington.
Nationalist Chinese commentator Hu Xijin wrote on microblogging platform Weibo that the core of Gaullism, which is “ingrained in French people’s bones”, is “strategic autonomy”, adding that Macron had warned Europe against being “America’s followers”.
China has long sought to drive divisions between Europe and the US, analysts said, with Beijing arguing that Europeans should have their own strategic policies, particularly on issues such as the war in Ukraine.
In his signed article, Xi also touted a recent initiative offering visa-free access to tourists from France and other European countries.
He said China had “fully opened up” its manufacturing sector and supported more Chinese companies investing in France. In return, he said he hoped that Chinese companies entering France could “operate in a fair and equitable business environment”.
Economists have said that China needs to attract more foreign investment to shore up its fragile economic recovery, with a years-long slowdown in the property sector and lagging consumer demand.
The People’s Daily also published an interview with Olivier Malet, chief financial officer of Airbus China, that highlighted the two countries’ “high-tech collaboration”.