CHINESE AMBASSADOR LU SHAYE Sent To PARIS To Serve CHINA-FRANCE RELATIONS

USPA NEWS - Chinese President Xi Jinping´s Visit to France in late March marked the 55th Anniversary of Official Relations between the Two Countries. The Event came just over a Year after French President Emmanuel Macron paid a State Visit to China (from 4 to 6 November 2019), which confirmed the Two Countries´ Desire to maintain their Global Strategic Partnership. China is a Significant Trading Partner for France. The Country is France´s Seventh Largest Market for Exports and its Second Largest Source of Imports. France also has more than 1,100 Companies with a Presence in China.

Chinese President Xi Jinping´s Visit to France in late March marked the 55th Anniversary of Official Relations between the Two Countries. The Event came just over a Year after French President Emmanuel Macron paid a State Visit to China (from 4 to 6 November 2019), which confirmed the Two Countries´ Desire to maintain their Global Strategic Partnership. China is a Significant Trading Partner for France. The Country is France´s Seventh Largest Market for Exports and its Second Largest Source of Imports. France also has more than 1,100 Companies with a Presence in China.

France and China jointly declared, through their Two Heads of State, to have decided to carry out Joint Action in the following Areas in particular :

- Strengthening Political Dialogue and promoting Mutual Trust
- Protecting the Planet
- Promoting Interconnectivity
- Promoting Bilateral Trade and Cross Investment
- Promoting Cooperation in Key and Emerging Sectors
- Promoting Cultural Creativity and People-To-People Exchanges

At a time when United States-China Trade Relations are deeply troubled, with a Tariff War underway, President Emmanuel Macron and President Xi Jinping in late March, 2019, signed a Series of Large-Scale Trade Agreements that covers many Sectors over a Period of Years. The Centerpiece was a €30 Billion Purchase of Airplanes from Airbus. It came at a Time when the Leading American Firm, Boeing, saw its Entire Fleet of new 737 MAX Passenger Planes grounded Worldwide.

Examples of Agreements reached between China and France :

- An Agreement worth €1 Billion (US$1.12 billion) to set up a Wind Farm Project in China was signed between EDF and China Energy Investment Corporation (CEIC).
- A Memorandum on the Creation of a Franco-Chinese Cooperation Fund estimated to be worth €1 Billion was signed by BNP Paribas, Eurazeo, and the China Investment Bank.
- A Memorandum worth up to €6 Billion (US$6.74 billion) was signed by BNP Paribas in the Framework of Co-Financing, but this time with Bank of China.
- A Strategic Partnership Agreement aimed at Industrial Upgrading worth €6 Billion between Schneider Electric and the Power Construction Corporation (PCC).
- A Global Framework Agreement to build 10 New Ships, worth €1.2 Billion (US$1.25 billion), signed by CMA-CGM and the China State Ship Building Corporation.

Also, many French Products are highly regarded in the Chinese Market, such as for Cosmetics, Luxury Goods, Cars, Wine, and Food Products.... Still, Survey published in 2019 by the Pew Research Center found that 62% of French had an Unfavourable View of China.

H.E.M. LU SHAYE is a Chinese Diplomat currently serving as Chinese Ambassador to France and Monaco... In 2006 he was Chinese Ambassador to Senegal, a Position he held until 2009. In July 2014, he became Vice-Mayor of Wuhan, Capital of Hubei Province. On July 22, 2015, he was appointed Director of the Bureau of Policy Research, Office of the Leading Group of Foreign Affairs of the Central Committee. In February 2017, he succeeded Luo Zhaohui as Chinese Ambassador to Canada, and served until June 2019, when he was appointed Chinese Ambassador to France and Chinese Ambassador to Monaco.

Ex-Ambassador in Canada, H.E.M. LU SHAYE New Posting in Paris is considered as a Promotion. Relations between Canada and China have grown strained following the Arrest in Vancouver of Huawei Executive Meng Wanzhou and China´s Subsequent Arrest of Two Canadians. Chinese Authorities have also blocked Imports of a Series of Canadian Agricultural Products ““ including Canola and Pork ““ and Stonewalled Requests for High-Level Communications with the Canadian Government.... The newly appointed Chinese Ambassador in France is Famous for his Plainspoken speech, a Break from the Cautious Public Comments made by many of his Predecessors.... On December 11, 2019, as Guest of Honor of Chinese Business Club, he made a long and very detailled Speech where a wide spectrum of Fields / Issues were covered, such as : US-China Trade War and Chinese Position in International Trade Relationships (including mostly Europe and France)...

Source : Chinese Business Club Event - December 11, 2019

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