China and France launch new strategic dialogue: What's behind it

During a meeting between Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi and French President Emmanuel Macron's diplomatic adviser Emmanuel Bonne, China expressed its readiness to deepen strategic relations with France.

Wang Yi emphasized the importance of enhancing strategic mutual trust and promoting comprehensive cooperation between the two nations.

The minister also said that China expects France to provide stable political assurances to support the development of bilateral ties, though he did not give any specific details.

Among the key areas for cooperation, Wang Yi highlighted:

• Civil nuclear energy,

• Aerospace industry,

• Agriculture and food sector,

• Artificial intelligence,

• New energy technologies.

According to him, the development of these sectors will enable both countries to strengthen their economic stability and technological potential.

In addition to economic issues, the two sides discussed the crisis in Ukraine, the situation in the Middle East, and matters of global governance. Both countries agreed to maintain coordinated communication on significant international challenges.

Analysts note that this move by China may signal Beijing's intent to strengthen its influence in Europe while building more resilient political and economic ties with key Western partners.

For more than a decade, China has systematically gained access to the United Kingdom's classified government systems, breaching documents of varying levels of secrecy.

According to sources familiar with the matter, the obtained information included confidential policy papers, private correspondence, and select diplomatic cables.