France is the first major Western country to establish official diplomatic relations with the People's Republic of China. On January 27, 1964, China and France established ambassadorial-level diplomatic relations. Since then, bilateral relations have generally developed smoothly.
In January 2018, French President Macron paid his first state visit to China. President Xi Jinping reached important consensus with him on pushing forward the close and ever-lasting China-France comprehensive strategic partnership for stable and long-term development. In March 2019, President Xi Jinping paid a state visit to France, opening a new chapter in China-France relations. During the visit, the two heads of state agreed to inherit the past and usher in the future to forge a more solid, stable and vigorous China-France comprehensive strategic partnership at a new historical starting point, and the two sides also issued a "Joint Statement on Jointly Safeguard Multilateralism, Improve Global Governance." In November, President Macron paid a state visit to China in conjunction with attending the second China International Import Expo (CIIE), during which the two sides jointly issued an action plan for China-France relations and the Beijing Call for Biodiversity Conservation and Climate Change. In April 2023, President Macron paid a state visit to China. In June 2023, Premier Li Qiang visited France and attended the Summit for a New Global Financial Pact. On January 27, 2024, President Xi Jinping exchanged congratulatory messages with President Macron on the 60th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries. In May 2024, President Xi Jinping paid a state visit to France. The two sides issued four joint statements respectively on the situation in the Middle East, on AI and global governance, on biodiversity and oceans, and on agricultural exchanges and cooperation.
In addition, the two heads of state held meetings on the sidelines of the G20 Buenos Aires, Osaka, and Bali Summits in December 2018, June 2019, and November 2022, respectively. President Xi Jinping also held a video conference with German Chancellor Angela Merkel, French President Emmanuel Macron, European Council President Charles Michel, and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen in December 2020. On April 16, July 5, 2021, and March 8, 2022, President Xi Jinping held three video summits with French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Angela Merkel/Olaf Scholz.
France is China's third-largest trading partner and the third-largest source of actual investment within the European Union. China is France's largest trading partner in Asia and its seventh-largest trading partner globally. From January to September 2024, bilateral trade between China and France amounted to US$59.238 billion, a year-on-year decrease of 1.2%.
The two countries have signed agreements on scientific and technological exchange and cooperation, environmental protection cooperation, peaceful use of nuclear energy cooperation, and health and medical science cooperation.
China and France have established a Governmental Mixed Commission on Culture, and cultural exchanges between the two countries are vibrant. From 2003 to 2005, the two countries held cultural years in each other's countries. In 2014, to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two country, China and France organized over 800 events throughout the year. In 2019, to celebrate the 55th anniversary of Sino-French diplomatic relations, the two sides held a series of cultural celebration activities. The year 2024 marks the China-France Year of Culture and Tourism, during which hundreds of events such as the ice sculpture of Notre-Dame de Paris at the Harbin International Ice and Snow Festival, concerts at the Palace of Versailles, the Chinese Lantern Festival, and the exhibition "The Palace of Versailles and the Forbidden City" were held by both sides.
China and France have also signed an agreement on education exchange and cooperation, and hold consultation meetings on a regular basis. China is one of the main sources of international students in France. A number of universities and high schools in both countries offer courses on each other's language.
Tourism is a key area of people-to-people exchanges between China and France. In October 2023, the China National Tourism Administration Paris Office (Office du Tourisme de Chine, Paris) set up a China pavilion at the Paris International Tourism Professional Exhibition and launched the "Hello! China" tourism promotion logo for the first time. Starting from March 15, 2023, Chinese travel agencies and online tourism companies resumed operating group tour services for Chinese citizens to France. From December 1, 2023, China implemented a 15-day visa-free policy on a trial basis for French citizens holding ordinary passports who come to China for business, tourism, family visit, exchange and transit purposes.
Regarding local exchanges, to date, there are 113 pairs of sister cities and provinces between the two countries.