French scholars eye deepening relations with China ahead of Macron's visit

China

French scholars eye deepening relations with China ahead of Macron's visit

2025-12-03 15:29 Last Updated At：23:57

France should seek to deepen cooperation with Chinese industrial and technology sectors where China has grown into a global giant, said French scholars ahead of President Emmanuel Macron’s visit to China.

Macron is scheduled to pay a three-day state visit to China from December 3 to 5. It will be his fourth state visit to China and a reciprocal visit to President Xi Jinping's historic state visit to France last year that marked the 60th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries. Sacha Courtial, an EU-China associate researcher at the Jacques Delors Institute, a European think tank, said that China's rapid rise in technology and advanced manufacturing marks a seismic shift with major consequences for Europe.

"So we have seen an increasing upgrading of the Chinese producing system from 20 years ago only a manufacturer of goods of low quality to now a dominant capacity on high level, high value chain producing goods and services. And this of course creates challenges for Europe and for France because we see many private companies that before were dominant on the global scale and now are challenged by some of Chinese private companies, such as in the EVs (electric vehicles) for instance," he said.

China accounted for more than 70 percent of global EV production in 2024, according to the International Energy Agency.

Loic Harriet, director of the Eklore-ed School of Management in France, said that European countries including France are becoming increasingly dependent on Chinese products.

"I like to tell my students this. Well, look at what you have on you now, on your table, on your desk, and so on. What is made in France? What is made in China? In fact, we have to be very pragmatic once again. Today, we are dependent on China," he said.

For many in France, deeper cooperation is not only about economics, but about long-term diplomacy, cultural exchange and a recognition of China's growing role on the world stage.

"Today France has a real chance to work with China, especially as cooperation with the United States has become complicated. I see a genuine opportunity to build long-term, cooperative, co-constructed partnerships with China based on mutual understanding," said Harriet.

China ready for autumn grain procurement as summer purchase draws to close

China has made full preparations for the upcoming autumn grain procurement as the summer procurement approaches its end, according to the National Food and Strategic Reserves Administration.

For now, the country's total amount of wheat procurement has exceeded 100 million tons.

To protect grain farmers' interests, the government has promptly activated the minimum purchase price program for wheat. Sinograin has opened 164 purchasing sites across two major producing provinces of Henan and Anhui, offering to buy wheat at prices supported by the policy without any volume cap.

"The payment for my grain came through quickly today, and I feel much more at ease now that the minimum purchase price policy has been put into effect," said Hou Erwei, a local farmer.

As the autumn grain crop gradually ripens across the coutry, the autumn grain purchasing season is about to begin, expected to run from late September through the end of April next year.

The Autumn season accounts for approximately three-quarters of the country’s total annual grain purchases, making it the most significant grain procurement and storage period of the year.

This year, grain dryers and smart grain-handling equipment have been included into subsidy, helping ensure that the autumn harvest can be purchased, stored, and transported smoothly.

"At present, grain storage capacity, purchasing funds, personnel, equipment, and other resources are all in place. It is expected that grain purchases during this year's peak autumn harvest season will reach approximately 350 million tons. We will strengthen market monitoring and information dissemination, as well as make effective use of the drying and other services provided by post-harvest grain service centers to help farmers reduce losses and increase their incomes," said Luo Shouquan, director of Grain Reserves Department, National Food and Strategic Reserves Administration.