French President Emmanuel Macron will travel to China from December 3 to 5 for a state visit at the invitation of Chinese President Xi Jinping, China’s Foreign Ministry announced on Monday. The visit marks Macron’s fourth state trip to China and follows Xi’s state visit to France last year, which commemorated the sixtieth anniversary of diplomatic relations between the two countries.
Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian said at a daily press briefing that the upcoming visit underscores the importance both governments place on maintaining strong bilateral relations. He noted that during the trip, Xi and Macron will hold formal talks aimed at guiding the future development of China France ties under what he described as new circumstances in global affairs. The two leaders are also expected to exchange views on major international and regional issues that continue to draw concern across the world.
In addition to talks with Xi, Macron will meet Chinese Premier Li Qiang and Zhao Leji, chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress. These meetings reflect the high level engagement both sides hope to maintain and the significance of the France China partnership within the broader framework of China’s relations with Europe.
Lin highlighted France’s historic role in China’s diplomacy, pointing out that it was the first major Western nation to establish formal diplomatic relations with the People’s Republic of China. He said the long history of cooperation between the two countries carries meaningful value and responsibility, especially at a time when the international environment is increasingly complex and unpredictable.
According to the spokesperson, China France relations have grown steadily in recent years under the strategic guidance of the two presidents. He noted that the two sides have seen frequent exchanges between government officials, productive cooperation in a range of economic and scientific sectors and successful coordination on issues addressed in multilateral organisations.
Lin said China hopes the upcoming visit will strengthen strategic communication between the two countries and expand practical cooperation in fields where mutual interests align. He added that Beijing also aims to work with Paris to deepen coordination in multilateral forums, particularly in efforts to promote stability, support development and uphold global governance mechanisms that rely on collective action.
As Europe’s geopolitical landscape evolves and global challenges intensify, the spokesperson said China views Macron’s visit as an opportunity to inject new energy into the China France comprehensive strategic partnership. Strengthened ties, he added, could contribute to improving the overall relationship between China and the European Union.
The ministry believes that closer cooperation between China and France can help address shared global concerns, such as economic recovery, climate change and the preservation of peace. Lin expressed confidence that the two countries can use the visit to build on past achievements and work together to support stability and prosperity in an uncertain world.
