China Navigation latérale fiche pays Dans cette rubrique China Political and Economic relations China - Political and Economic relations Hong-Kong - Political and Economic relations Macao - Political and Economic relations France and China France and China France and Hong Kong France and Macao China - Political and Economic relations Date of update: June 10th 2026 Political relations The recognition of the People's Republic of China by France on 27 January 1964 was the starting point of official relations. The Franco-Chinese relationship was elevated to the status of a “comprehensive strategic partnership” in 2004. Three dialogues structure the bilateral relationship. The strategic dialogue, created in 2001, addresses all areas of the bilateral relationship and aims to strengthen consultation on global issues, such as the reform of global economic governance and global issues, as well as on regional crises. The last session was held in Hangzhou on 15 October 2025. The high-level economic and financial dialogue (last session on 15 May 2025), created in 2013, addresses all economic issues. The High-Level Dialogue on Human Exchanges (last session on 4 July 2025), created in 2014, concerns academic, scientific, cultural exchanges, sport, tourism, the promotion of women’s rights and gender equality. The bilateral relationship with China is part of the triptych declined by the European Union since March 2019 (partner, competitor, systemic rival). 27 January 2024 marked the 60th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations. This anniversary has given rise to celebrations throughout the year 2024; including the concert at the Royal Opera of the Chateau de Versailles on 31 January, in the presence of the French and Chinese Ministers of Culture, on the occasion of which the Franco-Chinese Year of Cultural Tourism in France was officially launched. French Ambassador to Beijing: Bertrand Lortholary (since March 2023) X account: @France_en_Chine Ambassador to Paris: Deng Li (since January 2025) X account: @AmbassadeChine Economic relations Bilaterally, our trade amounts to €95 billion in 2024, making China our 5th largest trading partner. Our main export sectors are aeronautics (€5.3 billion, 23%), luxury (€5 billion, 21%) and agri-food (€3.1 billion, 13%). Our main import items are computer, electronic and optical products (€19.6 billion, 28%), electrical and household equipment (€10.6 billion, 15%) and textiles (€9.8 billion, 14%). The rebalancing of our trade is a priority objective, regularly reiterated during our bilateral deadlines. China represents France’s first bilateral trade deficit. It reached €46 billion in 2024, a stable figure compared to €47.3 billion in 2023, and significantly lower than the record level of €55 billion in 2022, marking a recovery in exports from the aviation and pharmaceutical sector. France-China cross-investments are experiencing a strong and asymmetrical increase. The stock of French FDI in China (€39.9 billion in 2023 according to the Banque de France, including €11 billion for Hong Kong) is higher than the stock of Chinese FDI in France (€13.5 billion in 2024, including €5.2 billion for Hong Kong), but Chinese investment flows are the most dynamic. The French presence in China is ancient; French companies were very early involved in emblematic projects (construction of the Daya Bay nuclear power plant by EDF initiated in 1994). Today, nearly 2,000 French companies, mainly large groups, are present in China, and employ more than 300,000 people (OFFATS/Eurostat figures) Conversely, more than 250 subsidiaries of Chinese companies are present in France and employ about 24,000 people. French investors do not enjoy the same level of openness in China as their Chinese counterparts in the French market. This page has been automatically translated using artificial intelligence. In case of discrepancy, the French version shall prevail.