French President Macron to visit China amidst trade disputes

Amidst France urging Beijing to open its markets despite the trade disputes and weak consumer spending, French President Emmanuel Macron is scheduled to visit China this week. The French President arrived in Shanghai on November 4 where he will visit the import fair before travelling to Beijing for a visit on November 6. The French leader is visiting China at the same time when France and its partners are urging Beijing to manufacture goods on its commitments to increase the import of agricultural products along with manufacturing goods while opening its market for financial products and other services. 

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Joined the US complaints

France, as well as the European Union, has joined the United States in their complaints with the Chinese trade being unjust. China is currently struggling with the lowest economic growth in the last 30 years with the lean demands making it to only 6 percent in the latest quarter. During the visit of President of China Xi Jinping to France in March, China had also signed an agreement worth more than $18 million to buy 300 aircraft from the European planemaker Airbus. According to Macron, this was an 'excellent signal' which shows the reliability of the relationship between the two countries. 

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Xi's Paris visit

Macron had also arranged President Xi's meet with German Chancellor Angela Merkel and the European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker during his visit to Paris. This was also seen as a push from the European countries for the trade talks with China. The Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Geng Shuang said that the import fair is to demonstrate China's efforts to open its domestic markets. Furthermore, China thinks it will help the country meet its domestic needs for economic development. Shuang further said that the European side should be assured that China will definitely fulfill its 'promises and commitments'. 

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(With AP inputs)