On November 25, Nicolas Sarkozy kicked off his first
presidential visit to China, just half a year since he took office.
During his three-day stay in China, his words and actions showed
how pragmatic he is about handling relations between China and
France, the China Newsweek commented. His pragmatism has
achieved substantial returns – 20 billion Euro worth deals that he
successfully cut with China.
On November 25, French President
Sarkozy visited the Terra-cotta Warrior Museum in Xi'an, Northwest
China's Shaanxi Province.
A student from Tsinghua University's
School of Journalism and Communication presented a college-run
newspaper to French President Sarkozy.
As matter of fact, Sarkozy is no stranger to China. Over last
two decades, he has visited China three times. The first visit took
place in the early 1990s, a bad time for Sino-French
relationship.
From early 1980s to mid-1995, Francois Mitterrand with the
left-wing Socialist Party held the presidency. He often criticized
China. The French first lady even invited Tibetan political exiles,
including Dalai Lama, to France to conduct political activities,
causing strong protests from the Chinese side. In 1989, France
suspended relations of every kind and every level with China and
began imposing political and economic sanctions on the country.
Two years later, the French government decided to sell six
Lafayette frigates to Taiwan, a considerable disturbance to the
Chinese government. That same year, Sarkozy, who at that time was
the mayor of Neuilly, cultivated a very close personal rapport with
Chinese diplomat. He had never been to China and was very curious
about the country. He wanted to make a visit as the major of
Neuilly, according to Cai Fangbai, former Chinese Ambassador to
France. Cai managed to make arrangements for Sarkozy's visit in
1991. In this way, Sarkozy came to China, accompanied by his
advisor, Michel Lu, an Asian-Frenchman and Sarkozy's very close
friend. He visited Tiananmen Square and took pictures there. More
importantly, he talked with Zhu Rongji who was then the mayor of
Shanghai.
But the next year, France sold Mirage 2000 fighters to Taiwan,
pulling the French-China relationship down to a nadir. That year,
Sarkozy was appointed as the budget minister and spokesman of prime
minister's office by then Prime Minister, Edouard Balladur. Mr. Lu
suggested to Sarkozy that France attach more importance to the
Chinese market; it would help boost the French economy. Sarkozy
agreed and talked to Balladur about the matter. This pushed
Balladur to visit China, where he salvaged the frazzled bilateral
relationship.
In the 1995 French presidential election, Sarkozy supported then
Prime Minister, Balladur – who ultimately lost to Jacques Chirac,
Sarkozy's long time mentor. In the aftermath of the election,
Sarkozy lost his job as the budget minister. He had to "cross the
desert", as quoted from the French media and he was lambasted as a
traitor by the new president's supporters.
But Sarkozy received an invitation from the Chinese government
that year. Accompanied by his yet to be wife Cecilia, he visited
Beijing and Shanghai. In Xi'an, he viewed the terra cotta warriors
for the first time. He seemed to have a great time during his visit
and looked as if he were coming of darkness.
In 2004, as the second highest officer in the French government,
leader of the ruling party and popular presidential candidate,
Sarkozy made a third China visit. The Chinese government received
him ceremoniously. President Hu Jintao met him and they had a very
nice talk.
This time, his fourth tour to China and his first presidential
visit to the country, he changed his tour route and unexpectedly
chose Xi'an for the first leg, which was the final destination for
his predecessor Chirac during his last presidential visit. The
Palais de l'élysée commented that Sarkozy's choice reflected the
new president's considerable interest in the ancient city of Xi'an
as well as his fascination with Chinese culture. In his four-hour
stay in the city, the president saw the terra cotta warriors again
and went to another two museums that have not yet opened to the
general public.
But it seems that Sarkozy is not as fascinated with Chinese
ancient culture as Chirac was. According to Nicolas Chapuis, a
Sinologist as well as French envoy and attaché to China, Sarkozy is
more interested in modern Chinese culture. This is why the French
president put the "798 Art Zone", a well-known center for Chinese
modern arts creation and exhibition, in his tight schedule.
Before Sarkozy came to China, the strike against welfare reforms
had just concluded. "When I returned from China I'll explain to the
public the government's corresponding measures," he said. He also
hoped to gain some achievements from China so as continue to push
forward his tough reforms.
On the morning of November 26, Chinese President Hu Jintao held
a talk with Sarkozy. They reiterated strategic Sino-France
relations. Hu said that the Chinese government always gives top
priority to the Sino-France relations in its foreign policies and
tries to promote their relations from a long term and strategic
point of view. Sarkozy reasserted that France holds a one-China
policy and opposes Taiwan independence and the planned
referendum.
In his talks with Premier Wen Jiabao, Sarkozy said that the EU
ban on arms sales to China is unreasonable and shall be lifted.
Practical Sarkozy won great rewards from his visit to China.
China and France signed a series of contracts over 20 billion
Euros, including cooperation on nuclear energy.
The WirtschaftsWoche, a German economic weekly,
commented that France is taking advantage of the frictions between
China and Germany and is trying to get the most out of the present
relations with China.
China and France issued a joint statement declaring that the two
countries will develop a partnership in dealing with climate
change. This is the first time China signed a bilateral document in
dealing with climate change with another country.
The French newspaper Figaro made an analysis of
Sarkozy's character, saying Sarkozy is a pragmatist and is only
interested in useful ideas.
After Sarkozy came into power, he puts European construction as
the core of his foreign policies and hopes to make a breakthrough
there in order to reverse France's declining status in Europe.
France fell in status following the EU Constitution crisis and
Sarkozy would like to restore his country's political power in
Europe.
In China he won the opportunity to become a European leader.
Many people expressed doubt about the future Sino-EU relations,
believing that trade frictions might send the Sino-EU relations
into a cold state. Sarkozy's visit to China demonstrates that
Sino-EU relations are still heading forward. China also sends its
message to the world: it not only values the traditional and
friendly relations with France but also attaches great importance
to the future of Sino-EU relations.
But pragmatists usually waver back and forth as their interests
change.
In his foreign policy speech made on the 100th day as the
president, Sarkozy mentioned China four times and took the "newly
emerging nations" like China as the second greatest challenge for
France. He particularly pointed out that China is entering into its
most impressive restoration period during the history of mankind.
But China's insatiable demands for materials have become a
controlling strategy, especially in Africa.
In less than three weeks after he became the president, Sarkozy
went to Africa three times because he believed that if France loses
its long-term realistic and effective influence over Africa, it
will subsequently lose its global influence.
How to reach a win-win situation in French "traditional spheres
of influence" poses a huge challenge to both France and
China.?
(Source: China Newsweek, translated by Pang Li and
Zhang Ming'ai for China.org.cn, December 7, 2007)
