China Ready To "Break New Ground" With France(file image@JBLemoyne)
Chinese President Xi Jinping has offered to “break new ground”, to encourage China-France ties. The move was days after the French President’s high profile visit to India, during the country’s Republic Day. During the visit of Emmanuel Macron, India and France unveiled an ambitious defence road map alongside the intensifying cooperation in the Strategic Indian Ocean and Indo-Pacific region. The French President’s visit also coincides with the 60th anniversary of diplomatic relations between China and France.
On the occasion of the meeting with Macron, the Chinese President said that China and France shall open up a path of “peace, security, prosperity and progress for human development”. He said China gives great importance to the development of bilateral ties and he is ready to work with Macron to take the 60th anniversary of diplomatic relations as an “opportunity to uphold fundamental principles, break new ground, build on past achievements, open up a new future, and make China-France comprehensive strategic partnership more solid and dynamic,”, as reported by official media.
Reportedly, China prioritises ties with France as Macron is pushing for Europe to become a third bloc, which is considered a balancing force between the US and China.
Macron was the sixth French leader to be the chief guest at India’s Republic Day celebrations, as the country celebrated its 75th Republic Day. During the visit, India and France unveiled an ambitious defence industrial roadmap to co-develop critical military hardware besides firming up cooperation in the Indian Ocean and Indo-Pacific region, which is considered to be a key concern for China.
A joint statement released after Macron’s visit to India read, “Defence and security partnership has been the cornerstone of India-France partnership in the Indo-Pacific region, which includes a comprehensive range of bilateral, multinational, regional and institutional initiatives, especially in the Indian Ocean Region”.
China’s increasing military manoeuvring has been a concern for India, US, and several other world powers, and have been discussing about the need to ensure a free and thriving Indo-Pacific in the backdrop of China’s rising military presence in the resource-rich region.
