Abstract
Bilateral trade between France and China has developed dramatically over the last twenty years. From about €10 billion in 1995, trade volume increased to more than €40 billion today. The annual growth rates of these exchanges– apart from 2009, marked by the global crisis– have reached 15% per year for a decade. However, the goods trade is strongly unbalanced. In 2009, for instance, for €30 billion of imports from China, France exported only €10 billion to China. The two countries must strive to reduce this imbalance to maintain mutually beneficial business relationships in the long term.
Recognition of Communist China on January 27, 1964, was the starting point for official relations between PRC (People's Republic of China) and the French Republic. France, led by General de Gaulle, is the first Western country to establish diplomatic relations with China. Its support won France a great deal of goodwill, but bilateral relations became much more intense with the policies of reform and greater openness that China adopted in 1978.
In 1995, President Jacques Chirac opted for a special relationship with China. On the occasion of his visit to China in 1997, the two countries signed a "Joint Declaration for a Global Partnership" which sets targets for closer political, economic and cultural exchanges between Paris and Beijing. This pioneering partnership is based on a central mechanism: the Franco-Chinese strategic dialogue which is designed to offer to the two presidents an ideal forum for consultation in which all subjects albeit bilateral or/and global may be addressed.
This dialogue is led by Special Representatives of the two heads of state. The mechanism provides for a regular plenary session, alternately in France and China. Informal sessions also occur. The strategic dialogue has gradually structured by the formation of working groups on particular themes. Its covers a lot of areas such as the non-proliferation, strategic issues, geographical development issues (e.g. in Africa).
Extract
[...] Jacques Chirac (French president) in May 1997 and October and 2006 ? Nicolas Sarkozy (French president) in November 2007, in August and October 2008 and April 2010 - Chinese politics in France ? Deng Xiaoping (Vice Prime Minister) in 1975 ? Hua Guofeng (Prime Minister) in 1979 ? Zhao Ziyang (Prime Minister) in 1984 ? Li Xiannian (Chinese president) in November 1987 ? Jiang Zemin (Chinese president) in September 1994 and October 1999 ? Hu Jintao (Chinese president) in January 2004 and November 2010 Recent agreements signed between France and China In 2005 In December 2005, Dominique De Villepin (French Prime Minister) and Wen Jiabao (Chinese Prime Minister) signed a $ 9.7 billion contract with the Chinese government for the European company Airbus. [...]
[...] PSA decided to form this second Chinese joint venture with Chang'an, which is also the Chinese partner of American automaker Ford. Its goal is to ride on China's growing auto market which is now strategically important for overseas carmakers. The French firm already operates plants with China's Dongfeng Motor Group as well. Moreover, both governments signed other new agreements concerning different fields such as manganese, cotton, cable purchasing and so on. More recently, in November new agreements were signed between Paris and Beijing. [...]
[...] And the number of French investors in China exceeds a thousand now. France, fifth world economy, is also the fifth source in the world for foreign direct investment. Major French groups are present in China in different fields such as aerospace and nuclear of course but also rail, automotive, urban transport, telecommunications, financial services, food processing, distribution and environment. In the future years, China would probably be the first economy in the world ahead USA. So French companies and government wouldn't have the choice to deal and work with China if they want to stay competitive in business and have more or less role to play in economic and political issues. [...]
[...] 7.9 billion French importations from China : ? 29.7 billion A close relationship since 1964 Recognition of Communist China on the January 27th was the starting point for official relations between PRC (People's Republic of China) and the French Republic. France, led by General de Gaulle is the first Western country to establish diplomatic relations with China. Its support won France a great deal of goodwill, but bilateral relations became much more intense with the policies of reform and greater openness that China adopted in 1978. In 1995, President Jacques Chirac opted for a special relationship with China. [...]
[...] Among the 10 French biggest cities of them are twin with Chinese cities: - Marseille (2nd) Shanghai (1st) in 1987 - Lyon (3rd) Guangzhou (3rd) in 1988 - Toulouse (4th) Chongqing (11th) in 1981 - Nice (5th) Hangzhou (13th) in 1998 - Nantes (6th) Qingdao (15th) in 2005 - Montpellier (8th) Chengdu (12th) in 1981 - Bordeaux (9th) Wuhan (8th) in 1998 Twinning's goals are to revitalize the cooperation between these cities concerning economy, cultural, educational and environmental issues. Additionally "Alliances Françaises1" are currently working in China. [...]
