Macron's Fourth China Visit Focused on Ukraine Ceasefire and Trade Imbalance

French President Emmanuel Macron concluded his fourth official state visit to the People's Republic of China, which spanned from Wednesday, December 3, 2025, through Friday, December 5, 2025. The three-day itinerary, encompassing high-level discussions in Beijing and Chengdu, was structured around two primary objectives: advancing geopolitical de-escalation concerning the conflict in Ukraine and recalibrating the substantial economic relationship between the European Union and China.

The geopolitical agenda centered on leveraging Beijing’s influence to promote a cessation of hostilities in Ukraine as the conflict entered its fourth winter. Following a recent meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in Paris, Macron sought to engage Chinese President Xi Jinping, a permanent member of the UN Security Council, to press Russia toward a ceasefire agreement. The French Presidency explicitly conveyed to Xi the imperative that China must “refrain from providing any means, by any means, to Russia to continue the war.” This appeal mirrors similar diplomatic efforts made during Macron's April 2023 visit, which reportedly yielded limited success.

The economic dimension of the visit addressed the persistent trade imbalance. In 2024, the European Union recorded a trade deficit with China exceeding €300 billion, cited in some reports as approximately $348 billion. For France specifically, this imbalance was acute, representing 46% of its total 2024 trade deficit, which amounted to roughly €47 billion. Macron’s delegation, which included nearly 40 chief executives, aimed to secure enhanced market access for French sectors, particularly energy and aviation.

A French presidential advisor articulated the desired structural shift in trade relations, noting the necessity for China to "consume more and export less (...) and that Europeans save less and produce more." This engagement was reciprocal, following President Xi Jinping’s state visit to France in May 2024, an event that marked the 60th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the two nations. Official meetings included engagements with Chinese Premier Li Qiang and Zhao Leji, Chairman of the National People's Congress Standing Committee, alongside Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot.

Beyond core political and economic matters, the visit incorporated cultural elements, including a visit to the Conservation and Research Center for the Giant Panda in Chengdu. This stop followed the November 2025 return of two loaned pandas to China due to health concerns, including kidney dysfunction in the female panda, Huan Huan. While China consistently advocates for peace talks and respect for territorial integrity, its refusal to condemn the 2022 Russian invasion remains a point of divergence with Western allies. The visit represents Paris’s pragmatic effort to manage complex international relations, balancing security influence with the imperative of correcting significant economic disparities.