French Foreign minister Catherine Colonna said in her speech on 24th November 2023, that France and China should work together on topics such as reducing global tensions, climate change and biodiversity. Catherine Colonna, who visited Pekin within the scope of official visit made the statement ahead of a major United Nations (UN) Climate Conference that will begin in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and the European Union (EU)-China leaders conference that will take place next month. The referred visit coincided with the four-day ceasefire decision in the Israel-Hamas war. [1]
Catherine Colonna used these phrases:[2]
“As big powers, we both share the responsibility to tackle global challenges and we can make concerted efforts in alleviating tensions around the world.”
Current tensions include many topics from the wars in Gaza and Ukraine to China’s trade, technology, and security competition with the United States of America (USA). Lately, a delegation of Arab foreign ministers gathered in China and France with the intention to request a ceasefire in Gaza.
At this point the EU takes a more hawkish stand towards China. Thus, the EU started a trade investigation, examining the incentive given to Chinese electronic vehicle manufacturers. EU authorities demanded taking steps to reduce the bloc’s trade deficits with China. Despite their differences, China tries to improve its relations to significant trade partners such as Europe, USA and Australia. China lifting the pandemic restrictions in December 2022 has made face-to face meetings much easier.
The statements of Catherine Colonna accentuate the significance of search for common solution between international actors. Global issues like climate change and biodiversity can’t be handled effectively without international cooperation. At this point, the efforts of great powers such as France and China associating to find solutions can improve the capacity of international communities to cope with these problems.
The tensions around the world Catherine Colonna mentions include especially conflicts in the Middle East and the rivalry between China and USA. In this case, France’s call for partnership with China emphasizes the use of soft power in diplomacy and the importance of multilateral relations. However, difficulties of such a cooperation should not be underestimated while national interests are at the forefront.
With China lifting pandemic restrictions, the process of revitalization of international relations is an important factor. This situation makes it possible to facilitate face-to face meetings and diplomatic contacts and creates possibilities for cooperation.
As a result, Catherine Colonna’s explanations provide a framework for the importance of cooperation and dialogue in resolution for global issues. For a sustainable and realizable partnership economic, political, and environmental factors should be considered as well as diplomatic endeavor.
Spot:
For a sustainable and realizable partnership economic, political, and environmental factors should be considered as well as diplomatic endeavor.
[1] “French Foreign Minister Holds Talks in China on Climate and Global Tensions”, Associated Press News, https://apnews.com/article/china-france-colonna-foreign-minister-wang-e0f37bacb231de10e3a6640e5beeec1d, (date of access: 24.11.2023).
[2] Ibıd.
