15 h. ago France poised to get two giant pandas in 2027 after Macron’s visit to China

France is poised to get a pair of pandas in 2027 as part of a new decade-long loan agreement finalised following President Emmanuel Macron’s three-day visit to China. On Thursday, the China Wildlife Conservation Association announced it had agreed with France’s Beauval Zoo to extend their international cooperation on giant panda conservation with the aim of boosting Sino-French exchanges. According to the group’s statement, the two giant pandas are expected to arrive at the zoo in Saint-Aignan...

Politics

15 h. ago France poised to get 2 giant pandas in 2027 after Macron’s visit to China

France is poised to get a pair of pandas in 2027 as part of a new decade-long loan agreement finalised following President Emmanuel Macron’s three-day visit to China. On Thursday, the China Wildlife Conservation Association announced it had agreed with France’s Beauval Zoo to extend their international cooperation on giant panda conservation with the aim of boosting Sino-French exchanges. According to the group’s statement, the two giant pandas are expected to arrive at the zoo in Saint-Aignan...

Politics

16 h. ago China and France agree to work together on nuclear issues as Macron visit ends

China and France vowed to expand cooperation on nuclear issues and global challenges as French President Emmanuel Macron wrapped up his three-day visit to China on Friday. They reaffirmed their commitment to “promoting the safe development of nuclear energy and strengthening collaboration across the nuclear energy industry chain”, state broadcaster CCTV reported. The two nuclear powers also expressed their support for non-proliferation and underscored the key role of the International Atomic...

Politics

38 h. ago As Macron eyes China deals to revive industry, trade shows tables have turned

French President Emmanuel Macron has called on Chinese companies to invest in France and transfer know-how in emerging sectors like batteries, electric vehicles (EVs) and solar panels – highlighting growing concerns over the widening technological gap between the two countries. “We want to welcome more Chinese investment through projects and re-industrialisation strategies, and this is what will allow us to break the cycle we’re currently in,” he said on Thursday in Beijing, where he attended a...

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42 h. ago Ukraine, trade, pandas: What China's Xi and France's Macron discussed in Beijing

Ukraine, trade, pandas: What China's Xi and France's Macron discussed in Beijing  CNBCMacron Seeks Xi’s Support on Ukraine, Calls for China Investment  Bloomberg.comEmmanuel Macron warns of ‘disintegration’ risk to world order in Xi Jinping meeting  Financial Times

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45 h. ago Emmanuel Macron warns of ‘disintegration’ risk to world order in Xi Jinping meeting

Emmanuel Macron warns of ‘disintegration’ risk to world order in Xi Jinping meeting  Financial Times

Events

47 h. ago Xi Jinping urges Emmanuel Macron to ‘stand on the right side of history’

Chinese President Xi Jinping told his French counterpart Emmanuel Macron that he was willing to work with France to “eliminate interference” and work on developing a steady relationship as they met for talks on Thursday, where issues such as trade are expected to be on the agenda. Xi said the world was undergoing rapid changes and the two countries “should demonstrate their responsibility, uphold the banner of multilateralism and firmly stand on the right side of history”. “China, together...

Politics

47 h. ago Developing | Xi Jinping urges Emmanuel Macron to ‘stand on the right side of history’

Developing | Xi Jinping urges Emmanuel Macron to ‘stand on the right side of history’  South China Morning Post

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47 h. ago China and France should ‘understand and support each other’, Xi tells Macron

Chinese President Xi Jinping told his French counterpart Emmanuel Macron that the two countries should “understand and support each other” and advance cooperation during a meeting on Thursday that touched on a range of issues, including the Ukraine war. Speaking to reporters after the talks, Xi described the discussions as “friendly, candid and fruitful”. He said the pair had agreed that the two countries “should uphold multilateralism, stand on the right side of history, adhere to equal...

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48 h. ago China's President Xi Jinping met French President Emmanuel Macron in Beijing

China's President Xi Jinping met French President Emmanuel Macron in Beijing  Reuters

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65 h. ago Macron begins China visit with EU trade ties and Ukraine war high on the agenda

French President Emmanuel Macron has started a three-day visit to China, where he is expected to confront thorny issues including Europe’s trade with Beijing and the Ukraine war. On Wednesday evening, Macron landed in Beijing at the start of his fourth visit to China, which will also include a trip to the southwestern city of Chengdu. He was given a red-carpet welcome by Foreign Minister Wang Yi, with whom he had a brief exchange of words. The French leader is due to meet Chinese President Xi...

Politics

66 h. ago French President Emmanuel Macron arrives in Beijing for state visit

French President Emmanuel Macron arrives in Beijing for state visit  news.cgtn.com

Politics

67 h. ago From pandas to nuclear power: what Macron wants from his trip to China

French President Emmanuel Macron arrives in Beijing for his three-day visit to China on Wednesday – and he is not coming alone. Alongside his wife Brigitte, the French leader is bringing a delegation of more than 80 people, including multiple ministers and nearly 40 CEOs from across the corporate world. Despite rising trade tensions between China and Europe, the long guestlist signals that Macron is travelling to Beijing looking to do business – and hints at France’s likely priorities. From...

Politics

7 d. ago Macron wants ties based on Europe being ‘a major partner of China’, source says

France hopes to establish a framework for ties between Brussels and Beijing “that serves mutual interests” when President Emmanuel Macron visits China next week, an Elysee Palace source said. “The purpose of [Macron’s] strategic conversation with President Xi Jinping is for Europe to be respected as a major partner of China and not as a variable in tensions,” the source – who chose to remain anonymous, citing professional norms in France – said during a briefing on Thursday. Macron will visit...

Politics

8 d. ago EU’s von der Leyen will not go to China with French President Macron

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen will not join French President Emmanuel Macron on his state visit to China next week, the Post has learned, in a break from recent tradition. Macron has included the European Union on his last few engagements with Chinese President Xi Jinping. This was seen as an effort to “Europeanise” his dealings with Beijing. Von der Leyen went to Paris last year to meet Xi alongside Macron and also visited Beijing in 2023 alongside the two-term centrist...

Politics

8 d. ago EU’s von der Leyen won’t go to China with French President Macron

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen will not join French President Emmanuel Macron on his state visit to China next week, the Post has learned, in a break from recent tradition. Macron has included the European Union on his past few engagements with Chinese President Xi Jinping. This was seen as an effort to “Europeanise” his dealings with Beijing. Von der Leyen went to Paris last year to meet Xi alongside Macron and also visited Beijing in 2023 alongside the two-term centrist...

Politics

8 d. ago Macron says France to restore voluntary military service amid Russia threat

French President Emmanuel Macron unveiled a new national military service plan on Thursday as France seeks to bolster its armed forces to address growing concerns over Russia’s threat to European nations beyond the war in Ukraine. Macron announced that volunteers aged 18 and 19 will start serving next year in a 10-month new military service programme. “A new national service is set to be gradually established, starting from next summer,” Macron said in a speech at the Varces military base, in...

Events

9 d. ago France’s Emmanuel Macron to meet Xi Jinping during China trip next week

French President Emmanuel Macron will visit China next week and meet with Chinese President Xi Jinping, the Élysée Palace said in a statement on Wednesday. The three-day visit is scheduled to begin on December 3, with two stops in Beijing and Chengdu, according to the statement. “On this occasion, major issues relating to the strategic partnership between France and China will be addressed, as well as several major international matters and areas of cooperation aimed at tackling the global...

Politics

2 w. ago Europe refuses to be tech ‘vassal’ of China and US, France’s Macron says

French President Emmanuel Macron said on Tuesday that Europe does not want to be a “vassal” that is dependent on US and Chinese tech companies, calling for a “European preference” in the sector. “Europe doesn’t want to be the client of the big entrepreneurs or the big solutions being provided either from the US or from China, we clearly want to design our own solutions,” Macron told a Berlin summit, adding that this stance represented “a refusal of being a vassal”. Macron was speaking at the...

Politics

2 w. ago Ukraine’s Zelensky secures ‘greatest air defence’ with 100 French Rafale jets

Ukraine signed a letter of intent with France to obtain 100 Rafale warplanes over the next 10 years, President Volodymyr Zelensky said on Monday as he seeks to bolster the country’s long-term military capacity to fight Russia’s invasion. Volodymyr Zelensky is visiting Paris for talks with President Emmanuel Macron at a time when heavy Russian drone and missile attacks on Ukraine have increased in recent weeks and Moscow has reported ground advances in the southeastern Zaporizhzhia region. “It...

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