Monday marked the 55th year of diplomatic relations between China and France with leaders from both countries sending messages of goodwill to each other.
President Xi Jinping said in his message to France that China's relations with the country have improved ever since official ties were forged between the two. Xi added that this collaboration has brought benefits to both countries.
According to China Daily, Xi highlighted how China and France share a historic responsibility in pursuing ventures that will further strengthen trade and diplomacy through which other countries can get inspiration from.
Also in his message, Xi reiterated that he will continue to work with France's Emmanuel Macron to ensure that traditional relations will be retained. Both France and China are permanent United Nations Security Council members.
Macron, in his celebratory message for China, said that the two nations should join hands in ensuring that mutual respect is retained, in relation to the multilateral international order that was originally established.
The French leader also said he is willing to work with Beijing in other industries such as aviation, agriculture, nuclear energy, and other markets that will benefit both parties. Macron remarked that he is looking forward to cooperating with Xi and Chinese officials regarding global issues that need attention, including climate change.
Despite trade disputes between China and the U.S., France doesn't seem to be negatively impacted. Macron and French officials have been welcoming collaborations with the Chinese government, especially now that China is rising in the technological realm.
According to the South China Morning Post, a survey conducted by Kantar Public revealed that French citizens still trust China's technological plans compared to the U.S. and Russia.
The survey sought to discover which countries are perceived as a threat to the French people. 35 percent of the respondents voted for the United States, 44 percent voted for Russia, while only 31 percent voted for China, suggesting that the French people are starting to recognize China as a powerhouse in the global market.
Furthermore, 81 percent of the respondents said they believe China is an influential country, with 13 percent of voters said the country is "very influential" in a positive way for France. Experts believe that this change in perspective could be attributed to the increasing patronage Chinese tourists show for France. The survey asked respondents about their views on Chinese tourism. 84 percent of them positively responded to the question.
Relations between China and France were strengthened further by Chinese businessmen who purchased some hundred vineyards in southwest France.
