Macron and May to work with Beijing
- By George N. Tzogopoulos
0 Comment(s)
Print
E-mail China.org.cn, June 21, 2017
The 19th China-EU Summit in Brussels showed there is room for closer collaboration between the two sides despite differences.
Of course, the Chinese administration does not find this summit sufficient in approaching Europe to gain the results it seeks. So, it is also enhancing bilateral relations with almost all the European states, of which France and the U.K. occupy an import place due to their special importance and history.
Also, both held elections recently, and now need to review their foreign policy options, with China top of the agenda.
To start with the new President of France Emmanuel Macron. His victory in the May presidential elections and now his recent victory in local legislative ones, mean he has a firm base to become a powerful leader for the coming five years.
Against the threat of an anti-EU, far-right politician [Marine Le Pen] coming to power, Macron helps Europe to breathe a little easier amid particularly difficult and complicated circumstances; however, it's too early to say if he will succeed in reinvigorating the French-German partnership and revitalizing the European integration project.
However, he certainly deserves an opportunity and can benefit from a limited grace period after all the hectic electioneering.
Macron's commitment to work for a better Europe goes hand-in-hand with China's European policy. Beijing wants the EU to remain united and move closer to fiscal and perhaps political integration. Although it's sometimes hard to understand the complex procedure of decision-making in Brussels, China believes a strong EU will contribute to the further improvement of Sino-European relations and will play a catalytic role for the preservation of world peace as well as challenging the U.S.-dollar dominated economic order.
Macron in public has shown himself positively disposed towards China. He has said "bilateral relations between France and China have historical meaning" and he hoped "to further continue the friendly relations," with a focus on many issues of common interest such as climate change, energy, trade, terrorism and the preservation of world peace. Macron is also knowledgeable about China's history as he has positively referred to both Mao Zedong and Deng Xiaoping.
As for strengthening the already excellent bilateral ties at the political, economic and cultural level, it is expected that "Made in China 2025" will align with France's development strategy of "Industry of the Future." Paris also welcomes the Belt and Road Initiative.
Continuing on to British Prime Minister Theresa May, her domestic position does not seem as strong as it used to be prior to her ill-judged decision to call an early election. This backfired, as her Conservative Party failed to have the needed majority to form a government alone. In a hung parliament, the Conservatives are now the largest party with 318 seats – as opposed to 331 in the 2015 general – and the Labour party follows with 262 seats (from 230 two years ago). Hence, she has to rely on fragile cooperation with the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) to politically survive. This small and relatively unknown party is based in Northern Ireland and will back May on a vote-by-vote basis with its 10 MPs.
Further to this, the future international position of the U.K. can hardly be anticipated. The country is in the process of preparing to enter disengagement negotiations with the EU. No one knows how long the talks will last, what May will achieve in the end and if her proposed "deep and special partnership" with the EU is feasible.
At the beginning, she had been in favor of a "hard Brexit" (a complete break), but the participation of DUP in the new British coalition government will possibly make her susceptible to a lesser alternative.
The situation is so unpredictable that during a recent joint press conference Macron gave with May after their Paris meeting, he mentioned the possibility of reopening the EU door at least until the U.K. actually departs.
Irrespective of the Brexit setback, Sino-British relations are flourishing. The Hinkley project on jointly developing nuclear energy in the U.K. is certainly the flagship. From the moment May decided to respect the commitment of her predecessor David Cameron – despite some initial questioning – China has been prepared to closely work with her. This was confirmed at the Hangzhou G2O Summit last September when the two countries also discussed new policy ideas such as the potential signing of a free trade agreement. Other fields of cooperation bringing win-win results include investments, trade, education and tourism.
May openly counts on her country's partnership with China – perhaps more now that she has to start negotiating on Brexit. It is surely no coincidence that she has a Weibo account to directly communicate with Chinese people.
On the occasion of the beginning of the present Year of the Rooster, she spoke glowingly of this being an important starting point for strengthened bilateral relations.
All in all, a lot is expected between China and France and China and the U.K. in the coming months and years. After all, these three are permanent members of the U.N. Security Council, thus sharing a joint responsibility for a better world amid turbulent times.
George N. Tzogopoulos is a columnist with China.org.cn. For more information please visit:
http://www.china.org.cn/opinion/GeorgeNTzogopoulos.htm
Opinion articles reflect the views of their authors, not necessarily those of China.org.cn.
Go to Forum >>0 Comment(s)