On the second day of Xi Jinping's state visit to France, the Chinese and French presidents took off their ties, a sign of détente between the leaders. The Elysée Palace wanted to put on a more personal appearance, after a very official first day in Paris on Monday, May 6. It was an opportunity to discuss important issues without an army of advisors, and to soften the stance of the president of the world's second-largest power, France hoped. China hoped that the trip would demonstrate that their president is warmly received around the world. But when they reached the Tourmalet pass in southwestern France, a thick blizzard greeted the two heads of state: The hoped-for photo op did not materialize.
It was emblematic of the entire state visit, which failed to clear up the ominous clouds hanging over the bilateral relationship. In a major breakthrough, the two presidents committed themselves to an Olympic truce in the ongoing conflicts surrounding this summer's Paris Games. The Elysée also welcomed a joint statement on the situation in the Middle East, including a reference to the two-state solution.
Conversely, trade issues gave rise to robust exchanges on Monday between Xi and Macron, supported by European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, invited by France. While Xi brushed aside the "so-called 'problem of China's overcapacity," his French counterpart affirmed his willingness to "continue to open up trade, but to ensure at all times that it is fully fair." The Elysée was at least pleased to have secured a reprieve for cognac, threatened by a Chinese anti-dumping investigation, launched in retaliation for the European Union's investigation into subsidies for Chinese electric vehicles.
Should this gesture – unconfirmed by the Chinese side – be seen as a desire for appeasement? "Xi is trying to limit the damage, but he knows we're going to take measures: That's what bothers him most, given China's slowdown," said China expert Jean-Pierre Cabestan, a researcher at the Asia Center. Since 2023, Chinese officials have been stepping up their messages of economic openness in a bid to bring back investors, after three years of closure due to the country's zero-Covid policy.
While household consumption is struggling to recover, exports are soaring. Against this backdrop, it's hard to imagine the European Union making any concessions: "We've lost out on solar panels and wind turbines, and we're not going to keep losing out on electric vehicles," added Cabestan.
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