“China and France should jointly open up a path of peace,” Xi stated in his statement on the occasion, noting that “the world is once again at a critical crossroads.”

Days after French President Emmanuel Macron’s high-profile visit to India, during which the two countries unveiled an ambitious defense roadmap in addition to intensifying cooperation in the strategically important Indian Ocean and the Indo-Pacific region, Chinese President Xi Jinping has pledged to “break new ground” to boost ties between his country and France.

Additionally, Macron’s trip to India took place on the 60th anniversary of China and France’s diplomatic ties.

“As today’s world is once again at a critical crossroads, China and France should jointly open up a path of peace, security, prosperity, and progress for human development,” Xi stated in his address on the occasion.

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The official media reported that Xi stated that China places a high value on the growth of bilateral ties and that he is prepared to collaborate with Macron to use the 60th anniversary of diplomatic relations as a “possibility to uphold fundamental principles, break new ground, build on past achievements, open up a new future, and make China-France comprehensive strategic partnership more solid and dynamic.”

According to Foreign Minister Wang Yi, China has pledged to increase French imports into the nation.

“We will keep driving up demand in the consumer and investment markets and keep growing the import of French-made goods and services,” he declared, adding that he hoped France would also give Chinese businesses access to a reasonable, fair, and stable economic climate.

China puts its relationship with France first because Macron wants to see Europe turn into a third bloc that acts as a counterbalance to the US and China.

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China’s state media has praised France-China ties and advocated for increased collaboration in high-tech fields.

France and China’s relationship has been built on their scientific and technological cooperation. The two nations have achieved great progress in cooperative research and development, ranging from the aerospace and nuclear industries to renewable energy, according to an editorial published in state-run China Daily.

On January 26, President Macron became the sixth French leader to attend India’s 75th Republic Day celebrations in New Delhi as the chief guest.

Beijing closely monitored Macron’s visit to India since Paris is becoming New Delhi’s main defence ally and because the US and EU are courting India as a counterbalance to China.

Following Macron’s meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the two nations launched an ambitious defence industrial roadmap to strengthen their collaboration in the Indo-Pacific region, which is of great significance to China, as well as to co-develop vital military hardware.

The joint statement released following Macron’s visit to India stated, “The cornerstone of India-France partnership in the Indo-Pacific region has been defence and security partnership, which includes a comprehensive range of bilateral, multinational, regional, and institutional initiatives, especially in the Indian Ocean Region.”

The statement added, “They also decided to step up their collaboration in the Southwest Indian Ocean, expanding on the cooperative surveillance missions conducted from the French island nation of La Reunion in 2020 and 2022.”

China is concerned about India-France collaboration in the Indian Ocean as it attempts to expand into India’s backyard.

A free, open, and prosperous Indo-Pacific is essential, as the US, India, and numerous other global powers have been debating, especially in light of China’s increasing military manoeuvres in the resource-rich area.

SOURCE: https://www.hindustantimes.com/world-news/chinas-break-new-ground-message-to-france-after-macrons-visits-india-101706476680122.html