The French foreign minister met with Chinese officials in Beijing to address trade issues and the ongoing conflict in Ukraine. The discussions come ahead of a planned visit to France by Chinese leader Xi Jinping later this spring.
The French minister emphasized the importance of rebalancing the economic partnership between Europe and China, echoing concerns raised by European leaders. European officials have expressed worries about the impact of low-priced Chinese electric vehicles on European production and jobs. The EU is investigating whether Chinese government subsidies for EVs provide unfair advantages to Chinese exporters.
On the other hand, Chinese officials have raised concerns about the EU's 'de-risking' strategy to diversify its vital supplies and minerals sources. Despite these challenges, both sides emphasized the importance of their partnership and expressed willingness to address each other's concerns.
China expressed its commitment to importing more high-quality French products and services while working to resolve issues raised by European companies, such as data transfer restrictions. The European side clarified that it remains open to investment and is not adopting protectionist measures.
Notably, the discussions did not touch upon a Chinese anti-dumping investigation into French brandy imports, which, along with the EU electric vehicle probe, could potentially escalate into a trade war.
Regarding the conflict in Ukraine, France urged China to convey clear messages to Russia, given its significant influence. While Europe and the United States support Ukraine, China's stance differs, raising questions about the nature of its communication with Russia. France reiterated its commitment to engaging with China to help find a peaceful resolution to the conflict in Ukraine.
