French President Emmanuel Macron will pay a state visit to China from December 3 to 5, his first in over two years. The visit follows Chinese President Xi Jinping's state visit to France earlier last year and continues the trajectory of high-level exchanges, strategic dialogue, and diverse cooperation that has long defined China-France relations.

'Maintaining a constant and demanding dialogue'

Macron is no stranger to China. Since taking office in 2017, he has visited the country three times. In 2018, he traveled to Xi'an in northwest China's Shaanxi Province, where both sides explored ways to build trust and expand practical cooperation. The next year, he attended the 2019 China International Import Expo in Shanghai, highlighting the importance of opposing "economic decoupling." In 2023, Macron returned with a high-level delegation, during which dozens of cooperation agreements were signed and in-depth discussions were held on key international issues.

The Elysee Palace described the upcoming journey as an effort to maintain a "constant and demanding dialogue" between the two sides.

Professor Cui Hongjian of the Academy of Regional and Global Governance at Beijing Foreign Studies University said the visit highlights two lasting aspects of China-France relations: continuity and strategic depth.

"Since taking office, Macron has consistently engaged in regular high-level communication and strategic dialogue with China to stabilize bilateral relations. This visit continues that tradition," Cui noted.

He added that the strategic nature of the relationship comes from its unique history and mission. France was the first major Western country to establish diplomatic ties with China. It has maintained a strong tradition of independent diplomacy since the De Gaulle era and supports Europe's strategic autonomy. Both China and France are permanent members of the UN Security Council with significant influence in their regions, giving their dialogue a higher-level and agenda-setting character.

Amid the Ukraine crisis, tensions in the Middle East, and renewed tariff disputes, major-power relations are entering a new cycle of uncertainty, Cui observed. "In this context, China-France strategic dialogue is increasingly important, providing both sides with stable anchor points in a turbulent world, while allowing Europe to reaffirm its role in the changing global order," he said.

Seeking solutions

Macron will arrive in Beijing on Wednesday with a delegation that embodies France's ambitions: ministers, senior advisers, and business leaders from more than 20 leading companies including Airbus, Framatome, and Dassault Systèmes.

Their mission: deepen cooperation in fields including aerospace, nuclear energy, digital industries, green technologies and transportation.

For France, the visit marks a sincere effort to build mutually beneficial economic ties. For the broader European Union, sources at the Elysee Palace said Macron plans to speak on behalf of Europe, emphasizing that the EU is a dependable partner, not an uncertain factor for China.

Professor Cui noted that France was among the first European economies to participate in China's reform and opening-up. It helped China's modernization and benefited from it. "Today, both sides share new opportunities in investment, energy transition, and technological transformation."

Cui believes that Macron's visit isn't just about making demands. "It is about putting issues on the table and working together to find solutions. Most EU countries still rely on cooperation with China and view China as a vital partner," he added.

Beyond giant pandas

Another notable part of Macron's schedule is his visit to Chengdu, the capital city of southwest China's Sichuan Province and the home of two giant pandas: Huan Huan and Yuan Zi, who recently returned to China after 13 years in France.

During their stay at Beauval Zoo, the pandas drew millions of visitors and became widely loved in France.

Accompanied by the zoo's director and a senior veterinarian, the French president is expected to tour the Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding and discuss a new round of panda cooperation.

Sources from the French side said Macron is also expected to attend events highlighting cultural creativity and people-to-people bonds, areas where China and France, both cultural powerhouses, have always found common ground.

According to Cui, the stability of China-France relations stems not only from historical continuity but also from their comprehensive, systematic cooperation.

China and France are cultural powerhouses and champions of Eastern and Western civilizations, he said, adding that people-to-people exchanges have always been a highlight, offering soft yet solid support for bilateral strategic trust.

Cui concluded that Macron's visit to Chengdu shows the two countries' shared commitment to boosting cultural and civilizational dialogue.