Visit our website:
http://www.france24.com
Like us on Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/FRANCE24.English
Follow us on Twitter:
https://twitter.com/France24_en
Category
🗞
NewsTranscript
00:00Go across to France 24's Yena Li standing by in Beijing. Yena, how is this trip being viewed where you are?
00:08Well, Chinese state media have portrayed this visit in a rather positive
00:13light and even before these meetings got underway, for example
00:16there's a headline that says Xi aims to open brighter future for China-France ties or we have a bridge of
00:23communication. China and France open new avenues for ties.
00:26There are also a lot of pieces about French culture, food,
00:30history, even quotes from President Xi Jinping talking about his love for French literature.
00:35This year is of course the 60th anniversary of diplomatic relations between
00:40France and China and state media here describe the Sino-French relationship as a robust one and one that provides
00:48stability for the rest of the world.
00:50So a lot of positives than being flaunted by officials. Less mention though of the more difficult topics that the two leaders will have to
00:58discuss namely trade and the war in Ukraine. One major article though does bring these issues up
01:04and that is President Xi's own opinion piece that appeared in Le Figaro paper and was later
01:09plastered all over Chinese state media as well.
01:12But even in that piece to the word cooperation is mentioned at least seven times.
01:17So clearly that is the theme Beijing wants you to remember.
01:21Yena, Emmanuel Macron is trying to give this visit a personal touch. He's even taking Xi Jinping to a place he visited as a child.
01:28Will that work given that some of the topics Macron is hoping to discuss the two sides don't see eye to eye on?
01:38But it's not going to be a game changer. In fact expectations are rather low for all the big issues ahead of this visit.
01:45Neither side is going to radically change course or change their views this week.
01:50Beijing's relationship with Moscow won't totally change course and neither will its economic vision.
01:55But let's put this this way. Not putting in an effort when Emmanuel Macron is known to do so with so many world leaders.
02:02Well that would be considered to be a bit of a snub. This is after all a state visit.
02:06So a bit of pomp and pageantry is considered to be a must.
02:09And having that good story to tell a good photo opportunity with that personal visit to the Pyrenees.
02:15Well it is added value and for now it does seem to be working a little bit in the sense that Chinese state media are already fawning over the attention.
02:24To give you one example, Prime Minister Gabriel Attal greeted President Xi on the tarmac on Sunday evening and he said Ni Hao, hello in Chinese.
02:32And that scene is trending on social media. It's even on the front page of the Chinese Communist Party's mouthpiece, The People's Daily.
02:40These efforts don't cost Emmanuel Macron or his government much but they are being received and reported on as a sign of warmth and of respect.
02:49Okay, France clearly rolling out the red carpet. Thank you very much for that Yenna. Yenna Li there from Beijing.