France and China look back on landmark anniversary year

France and China celebrated 60 years of formalized diplomatic relations in 2024 – and the highlight of the anniversary year was the visit to France in May by Chinese president Xi Jinping.

Xi paid a state visit in the run-up to the Paris Olympic Games, after Emmanuel Macron visited China in 2023. The French and Chinese presidents cheered the 60-year anniversary of formally establishing bilateral ties, clinking glasses of champagne at a lavish state dinner in the Elysee Palace in the spring.

Xi's two-day visit was full of pomp and ceremony, along with serious political dialogue. There was also time for a less formal event: Macron invited Xi to the Pyrenees for music and lunch in the mountains.

There have been cultural elements to this anniversary year. China's National Traditional Orchestra staged a joint performance with France's Royal Opera Orchestra at the golden palace of Versailles. A Tang dynasty exhibition is currently being held at France's National Museum of Asian Arts.

Yet despite the celebratory atmosphere this year, analysts say the Franco-Chinese relationship is not balanced.

"From the commercial point of view, there is an absolutely enormous deficit compared with China and there are points of contention economically with the European Union generally and with France specifically as regards China," said Emmanuel Lincot, an international relations professor.

"So we're starting a new year, which will undoubtedly be rather difficult, but precisely because it's an anniversary year, we hope that both parties will continue to get along."

The areas of tension this year included the introduction of EU tariffs on Chinese electric vehicle imports. The European Commission says the move was to counter unfair state subsidies and France voted in favour of the measures.

This year, China imposed commercial restrictions on exports of French brandy – a move Beijing said was aimed at protecting domestic producers, although many in Europe saw it as a response to the EU's tariffs.