What Was the Goal of Macron's Visit to China?

• 01.15.2018, 17:16
•  Europe,  Asia,  World

Svoboda.org

The visit of French President Emanuel Macron to China immediately following the New Year's Eve attracted the attention of many people. At the beginning it was mentioned that the visit would focus mainly on economic and business cooperation issues.

It is noteworthy that during the visit, the issue of the South China Sea had not been raised, nor had any attention been paid to human rights violations in the country.

However, Macron clearly showed that the subject of discussion would be not only bilateral relations, but also China-EU relations.

At the end of the visit, at a press conference, Macron said that it is important for Europe and China to intensify especially trade relations. The French President also noted that joint programs should be implemented in Europe, China and third countries. According to Macron, France is ready to lead the process. In addition, Macron, in contrast to the United States, approved China's view of global trade freedom, as well as the Paris Treaty once again.

Many say that the statements made during this visit testify that Macron supports the continental trade, "One Zone and One Way" initiative, trying to move ahead of its European counterparts and to strengthen its leadership position in the European Union. It is noteworthy that some Western figures have already welcomed China's initiative, while others worry that China thus will try to implement its geopolitical programs.

It is likely that the French president is trying to take advantage of the constitutional crisis in Germany and Chancellor Angela Merkel’s busy graphic because of negotiations over the formation of a coalition government. Besides, Macron tried to fill in the existing vacuum in the world policy. The United States is weakening its position as a geopolitical player, the United Kingdom is busy with Brexit (though it is expected that the British Prime Minister Theresa May will also visit China at the end of the month), meanwhile France, headed by Macron, can become a reliable partner for China. It seems that in case of China-US confrontation France will stand for China.

However, many experts urge not to attach much importance to Macron's visit. Its goal was to create closer economic ties that would allow France to reduce France's trade deficit as compared with China, which amounts to € 30 billion a year. That is why trade agreements were signed in the spheres of aviation, agriculture and nuclear energy.

The key documents among those are memoranda signed with Areva Energy Holding and Airbus. Already in the first quarter of 2018, Areva will launch the first nuclear fuel processing plant in China. Cooperation in the aviation industry will also boost the positions of the two countries in the international aviation industry.