Trade to deepen Sino-French ties

China's manufacturing transformation, ultra-large market and accelerating shift toward services, energy transition and digitalization will unlock substantial opportunities for French companies in the years ahead, said French business executives.

As China and France deepened economic cooperation during French President Emmanuel Macron's state visit to the nation last week, they said that the prospects for Sino-French economic collaboration will be enriched by a new wave of trade growth, deeper industrial linkages and investment activities.

That momentum is already evident in the steady rise of bilateral trade and investment. China-France trade expanded 4.1 percent year-on-year to $68.75 billion in the first 10 months of 2025, and cumulative two-way investment has exceeded $27 billion, data from the Ministry of Commerce showed.

With China entering a new era of green and innovation-led growth, Chinese and French companies have vast room for cooperation in technological innovation and green transformation, particularly in the areas of energy transition, climate governance, industrial upgrading and the digital economy, said Jean-Pascal Tricoire, chairman of French industrial group Schneider Electric.

"Deepened collaboration in electrification and digitalization will allow both sides to combine their technological strengths with market potential, jointly explore new tracks in the green, low-carbon and smart economy, and achieve truly mutual benefits," Tricoire said.

With five research and development centers and artificial intelligence labs, as well as 30 factories and logistics facilities across China, the French company has partnered with Chinese companies, including State-owned Power Construction Corp of China and China National Machinery Industry Corp, to tap third-party markets in the Middle East and Southeast Asia, providing advanced energy infrastructure for local communities.

Schneider Electric has also deepened collaboration with Chinese battery manufacturers and electric vehicle charging infrastructure providers to bring Chinese technologies in energy storage and charging to Europe and other global markets, helping accelerate the global green transition.

"We will not only broaden our engagement in China but also work with Chinese partners to bring China-developed solutions to other parts of the world," he added.

Also upbeat about the Chinese market, Stephane Maquaire, president and CEO of Club Med, a Paris-headquartered travel and lifestyle brand, as well as a subsidiary of China's Fosun International Ltd, said the company will further expand its customer base and product innovation in China, integrating more local cultural elements.

"Meanwhile, the Chinese market is also engaging in close collaboration with European and Southeast Asian markets, mutually promoting and introducing customers to each other," Maquaire said.

Eager to seize more market share, Club Med plans to grow its lineup of "all-inclusive" mountain resorts and sun-and-beach properties.

The company will further strengthen its position in the snow-vacation segment by developing new ski resorts — including exploring premium destinations such as the Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region — while simultaneously expanding its sun-and-beach offerings with new projects in Sanya, Hainan province.

Club Med's sales revenue in the Chinese mainland grew by more than 11 percent year-over-year in the second half of its 2025 fiscal year. This is also attributed to the inbound business surge in 2025, which has already exceeded 10 million euros ($11.64 million).

Other French companies are also stepping up their commitments in China.

Air Liquide SA, a French industrial and medical gases provider, said the company will invest 25 million euros to revamp its air separation unit in Yulin, Shaanxi province.

As part of a contract extension with a subsidiary of a local partner, the new electricity-powered production unit is expected to be operational by the end of 2027 and cut carbon emissions by 224,000 metric tons per year, said Rui Coelho, CEO of Air Liquide China.

Coelho said strong China-France business ties are crucial for jointly addressing global challenges, particularly climate change and energy transition.

"China is already quite advanced in 5G networks, AI, the internet of things and industrial robots," he said. "This aligns well with our strategy to support industrial modernization and the shift toward smart, low-carbon development."

zhongnan@chinadaily.com.cn