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Sarkozy then went to the political center, Beijing, and concluded his trip in the commercial metropolis of Shanghai. His trip signified his intention of expanding Sino-French cooperation in these three areas.
Nevertheless, Sarkozy came under criticism for focusing on profitable ventures while ignoring sensitive issues like human rights and environmental problems. Some media sarcastically termed his trip "shopkeeper's diplomacy."
It is true that China signed an agreement worth US$20 billion for the purchase of French Airbus planes. And French company Areva will help China build two nuclear reactors in the southern province of Guangdong. As China aims to diversify its fuels away from coal and oil to meet the economy's exploding demand for energy, it plans to build 32 nuclear reactors by 2020, which will likely bring France many more opportunities.
There are sound reasons for European companies to expect more from China's huge market. China's gross domestic product has grown by an annual average of around 9 percent over the past decade, more than twice the global rate of expansion. By some estimates, China will overtake the United States as the No. 1 economy in the world in less than four decades. As trade between the European Union and China further expands, France could replace Germany as China's biggest EU trading partner.
However, French ties with China are not simply based on shopkeeper's diplomacy or pure economic reasons. At a time when soft power can override hard power, economics are not the only dynamic at work in France's engagement with China. There is more to it than just trade. Culture is also playing a big role in drawing the two countries closer.
China and France have some similarities in their cultural attitudes. Both trace their histories to the cradles of civilization, one in the east, one in the west. Some historians have pointed out similarities between Louis XIV of France and the Chinese Emperor Kangxi. Both expanded the influence of their respective countries. Both were patrons of science and development.
This culture card was particularly well played by former French President Jacques Chirac. He was instrumental in having two yearlong Sino-French culture programs launched, a "China Year" in France in 2003 and a "France Year" in China in 2005. As the two nations took turns appreciating each other's culture, they were reaping the rewards of a relationship that has lasted over 40 years.
The impetus of these cultural ties has helped boost strategic cooperation between France and China in challenging the United States as the world's sole superpower. The shared desire for a multipolar world is a strong factor in the growing partnership between the two countries.
China holds that the general trend is toward a multipolar world, as this would be conducive to mutual respect for each country's sovereignty and rights, and the establishment of a fair and just international order. France agrees with this.
During the administration of Charles de Gaulle, France advocated breaking the bipolar pattern of two superpowers and creating conditions for the emergence of a multipolar world. In 1964 France became the first Western country to establish diplomatic relations with Beijing. It was quite clear then that De Gaulle wanted to break U.S. hegemony in Europe.
Chirac continued De Gaulle's policy of independence. China and France defined their relations as a "comprehensive strategic partnership" in a joint statement signed by the two leaders in January 2004. This orientation showed that France hoped to reverse Washington's unilateralism, especially after the Iraq war. This matched Beijing's concern as well.
As a pivotal country in Europe, France's strategic mentality will likely remain unchanged. Even though the new president has expressed his intention to improve relations with Washington, Sarkozy's visit to China seems to indicate that he intends to continue France's pro-China policy.
The term "China-Europe axis" could have far-reaching implications for France's relations with China. The European Union and China have considered each other strategic partners, cooperating on a host of issues from environmental programs to Europe's Galileo satellite navigation program. France and Britain also hold regular talks with Chinese security experts, and Chinese military personnel train in army colleges across Europe. For France, China can also serve as a card to give it leverage in Europe, especially with Germany.
For the sake of both Europe and France itself, France is likely to further strengthen its ties with Beijing. The attention paid to culture as well as commerce is likely to yield positive results on other fronts, and long-term friendship combined with shared interests is a winning combination.
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(Zhang Quanyi is an associate professor at the Zhejiang Wanli University in Ningbo, China, and a PhD candidate at Shanghai International Studies University, studying policy making and collective identity. He is currently a research fellow at the School of International Studies at Yonsei University in Seoul, Korea, under a grant by the Korea Foundation. He can be contacted at qyzhangupi@yahoo.com. ©Copyright Zhang Quanyi.)
