Chinese President Xi Jinping accompanied French President Emmanuel Macron to Chengdu on Friday, a rare show of personal diplomacy that underscored China’s focus on France as a central partner in its engagements with the European Union. The gesture, typically reserved for a select few leaders, marked a notable highlight of Macron’s fourth state visit to China.
Macron began the day with an early morning jog at Jincheng Lake Park, surprising local runners, according to videos circulating on Chinese social media. He later joined Xi at the historic Dujiangyan dam, an ancient irrigation system that has regulated water flows around Chengdu since the 3rd century B.C., state media reported. The joint appearance signalled Beijing’s intent to showcase cultural and infrastructural landmarks while strengthening bilateral ties.
Talks in Beijing the previous day yielded 12 cooperation agreements spanning areas such as population ageing, nuclear energy and panda conservation. While no financial details were announced, Macron was accompanied by leaders of major French companies, reflecting Paris’s goal of advancing economic engagement with the world’s second-largest economy.
However, expectations that China might approve a long-discussed purchase of 500 Airbus jets went unmet. Analysts said Xi was unlikely to move forward with such a large order as Beijing seeks to maintain leverage amid ongoing trade negotiations with the United States, which has been pressing China to commit to new purchases from Boeing.
