Chinese President Xi Jinping accompanied his French counterpart Emmanuel Macron to Chengdu on Friday. This gesture is considered rare for a foreign leader traveling outside Beijing and underscores China's focus on Paris in its diplomatic engagement with the European Union.
The French president began his day by surprising local joggers during a spontaneous visit to the city's Jincheng Lake Park. Macron later joined Xi Jinping for a visit to the Dujiangyan dam, an ancient water management system operating near Chengdu since the 3rd century B.C.
A meeting between the two leaders in Beijing on Thursday resulted in 12 cooperation agreements. These agreements cover topics such as population aging, nuclear energy, and panda conservation. No monetary amounts for these agreements were disclosed.
Macron is being accompanied on his fourth state visit to China by the heads of several of France's most prominent companies. The Chinese leader was not expected to approve a long-anticipated order for 500 Airbus jets. This delay is likely strategic, intended to maintain Beijing's negotiating leverage during ongoing trade talks with the U.S., which is simultaneously pushing for new Boeing purchase commitments.
