Did you know? Just yesterday, an unusual course crossed the skies of Paris. A special plane from the East landed slowly, this is not an ordinary plane, but carrying the highest level of Chinese visiting team, their arrival made this romantic city instantly full of political color.
Imagine the moment the plane came to a steady stop at Charles de Gaulle Airport, the French Prime Minister was already standing there waiting for a long time, with a long red carpet behind him, stretching from the ramp to the front door. The salute soldiers stood solemnly on both sides, as if to show the world the solemnity and extraordinariness of this diplomatic event.
This visit is not just a simple welcome and send-off. It contains profound political significance and economic interests, and it is also related to the future direction of China-France and even China-EU relations.
We must know that this year marks the 60th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and France, and this anniversary is like a milestone, marking a long and solid period of relations between the two countries. This visit by the top level of the Chinese side is more like setting the tone for the future development of bilateral relations at this special moment.
From a practical point of view, the international situation is in a period of turmoil and intertwining. The ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine has brought chaos back into chaos in the Middle East, and the competition between major powers has become increasingly fierce. In this context, France's role in international affairs, as a permanent member of the United Nations Security Council and an important member of the European Union, is self-evident. The quality of Sino-French relations is not only related to the interests of the two countries, but also has a far-reaching impact on China-EU relations and the stability of the entire international order.
The purpose of this visit is to consolidate and develop this important relationship. We can see that before the visit, French President Emmanuel Macron repeatedly stressed the importance of Europe's strategic autonomy in public. This has not only laid a good foundation for this Sino-French dialogue, but also demonstrated France's independence and autonomy in handling international relations.
What substantive results can this visit bring? We can find some clues in the economic and trade fields. According to data released by the Ministry of Commerce, in the first two months of this year, French direct investment in China increased significantly, which is enough to show the confidence and expectations of French companies in China's economy. From agricultural products and cosmetics to civil airliners, aerospace, civil nuclear energy and other fields, the cooperation between China and France is constantly expanding and deepening. This visit is expected to bring more opportunities for cooperation and win-win space for both sides.
In addition to economic and trade cooperation, the coordination between China and France on international and regional issues was also one of the important topics of the visit. On the Ukraine issue in particular, China and France need to have in-depth communication on their respective positions and concerns. The recent U.S. military aid to Ukraine has undoubtedly brought new challenges to the peace process, and China and France, as important forces in the international community, have the responsibility and ability to play an active role in promoting a political settlement of the Ukraine crisis.
We should also note that during Macron's visit to China last year, China and France reached an important consensus on the Ukraine issue. Both sides believe that it is in the interests of China and Europe to end the conflict as soon as possible, and both sides believe that this geopolitical crisis, which has lasted for more than two years, can only be resolved through political dialogue. This consensus has laid a solid foundation for cooperation between China and France on the Ukraine issue.
Returning to the visit itself, we can see that the French government attaches great importance to and carefully arranges this high-level visit of the Chinese side. From the reception specifications at the airport, to the national flag flying on the streets, to the wide attention of the media, all of them highlight the extraordinary significance of this visit. The meeting and exchanges between the leaders of China and France will also point out the direction and inject new impetus into the future development of bilateral relations.
So what should we, as ordinary people, make of this visit? Perhaps we can think about it from the following aspects: First, this visit will undoubtedly further consolidate and develop the friendly relations between China and France, and promote cooperation and exchanges between the two sides in various fields; second, it also provides us with a window to observe and understand the international situation, so that we can more clearly understand the complexity and changeability of the current world; and finally, it also reminds us to maintain an open and inclusive mind, actively participate in international exchanges and cooperation, and jointly promote the building of a community with a shared future for mankind.
This high-level visit by the Chinese side to France is not only a diplomatic event, but also a friendly exchange across time and space. It allows us to see the beautiful vision of China and France moving forward hand in hand in friendship and cooperation, and also makes us full of expectations and hopes for the future.