
Editorial. Fran? Ois Hollande arrives in Beijing Thursday, April 25, for the first time in his life, at age 58, and for the first time since his election there SOON? T twelve months. It was time.
In comparison, the German Chancellor, Angela Merkel, made six visits in the second economic power in the world over the past six years, including two in 2012 alone. When Merkel moves in the Middle Kingdom, it is for five days. The French President, who has yet chosen as diplomatic adviser to a leading expert on China, Jean-Paul Ortiz will spend him thirty-seven hours.
Martine Aubry, appointed Special Representative for economic relations with China in late august by the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Laurent Fabius, went there once since, in January, and regrets that France did not do enough ” political lobbying “in China.
It is never too late to catch up. Paris is finally beginning to realize the weight of Asia to Europe, and the show. The Elysee is aware of the need to standardize a complicated relationship with China, and the coincidence of two new leaders of both sides, Mr. Holland to Paris and President Xi Jinping in Beijing should be able to contribute .
The vision of China Fran? Ois Hollande fortunately changed since, campaigner, he confided to the journalist Eric Dupin, who reports in his book The Victory poisoned (Threshold), he saw China as “the opponent “and the Chinese as people” who cheat on everything. ”
THE PRAGMATIC prevailed
As in finance, which was also described as his opponent time, pragmatism prevailed, and the Chinese ambassador in Paris, a very active and influential Kong Quan was quickly re? U at the Elysee the new socialist president.
Sign of the high stakes of the Franco-Chinese relationship, the president took with him to Beijing a delegation of eight ministers and sixty entrepreneurs. Again, the field is huge catch. The trade surplus with China France is twice that of China with Germany. But the interests of the two countries can converge. A recession in Europe also penalizes China, and Chinese growth momentum can be used in Europe.
We must break the taboo of Chinese investments in the capital of French companies? Ease, provided that the necessary measures are taken to ensure the national security considerations.
Finally, on the difficult but essential question of human rights, Fran? Ois Hollande must again be able to find a realistic language. As the German experience shows, it is not impossible to do business and to say things. France can be a partner in China without sacrificing its principles. Welcome to China, Mr. President!
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