Cooperation between China and France has reached new heights, with significant advancements in investment, trade and emerging industries. This burgeoning partnership is not only fostering economic growth but paving the way for innovative solutions in various sectors, benefiting both nations.

Yao Ling, director of the European Institute at the Chinese Academy of International Trade and Economic Cooperation under the Ministry of Commerce, said that in recent years, France's direct investment in China has continued to grow, ranking among the highest in the European Union.

Barbara Frei, executive vice-president of French industrial and tech company Schneider Electric, said that the company continues to invest in China because it has "absolute confidence in the development prospects of the Chinese market". She noted that China has now become a more mature economy, with a vibrant market that presents challenges but even more opportunities.

Patrick Charignon, vice-president for Asia-Pacific of EDF Renewables, a subsidiary of France's leading electric utility company, said that China's installed capacity of low-carbon energy is world-leading. "China has always supported us in carrying out energy investment projects and China's excellent supply chain can fully meet all our equipment needs," he added.

Statistics from the Ministry of Commerce show that in 2023, France's direct investment in China reached $1.34 billion, up 77 percent year-on-year. In the first two months of this year, France's direct investment in China soared by 585.8 percent year-on-year.

A 2023 survey by the French Chamber of Commerce and Industry in China showed that member companies' willingness to develop their businesses in China over the next three years has increased, with 47 percent of them planning to invest. Also in 2023, the trade volume between China and France reached $78.9 billion, making France China's third-largest trading partner within the EU and China France's largest trading partner in Asia. From airplanes, satellites and nuclear power plants to wine, cheese and cosmetics, China-France cooperation has expanded into broad fields and stands out in green development and technological innovation.

In the Hauts-de-France region in northern France, a battery case factory invested in by China's Minth Group has begun operation. Inside the factory, dozens of welding and handling robots work away with advanced craft experience and technology brought by the Chinese side and helping French partners save capital and time costs.

In Chengdu, Southwest China's Sichuan province, the aircraft life cycle service center of Airbus commenced operation in January. Several aircraft have undergone engine replacements since February. The center is the first one-stop service center of Airbus globally, with a recycling rate for aircraft and their parts as high as 90 percent. It helps form a complete industry chain cluster in the Chinese aviation market.

In the field of hydrogen energy development, Airbus has established a research and development center in Suzhou, Jiangsu province, dedicated to developing hydrogen energy infrastructure and advancing the design and development of zero-emission aircraft.

China-France nuclear energy cooperation has evolved from technical cooperation to scientific research fields. Luo Qingping, chairman of the Strategic Planning Research Institute of China National Nuclear Corp, said that over the past year, the institute has jointly conducted research on nuclear energy supporting low-carbon development with French energy giant EDF Group, summarizing China-France nuclear energy development practices from a global perspective and providing suggestions for global nuclear energy development.

"This is a model of strategic planning research cooperation between China and France, reflecting the consensus between China and France on nuclear energy development," Luo said.

Cross-border e-commerce has also brought momentum to China-France bilateral trade. Li Mingtao, chief e-commerce expert at the China International E-Commerce Network, said that over the past two years, e-commerce platforms have made it convenient for many small French companies to explore the Chinese market.

By Wang Jinhui