[5] The visit was seen as an attempt to "reconnect" with China after three years of its zero-Covid policy and despite Beijing's increasing benevolence to Russia in the context of the Russo-Ukrainian war.

During his first visit, he announced a "comprehensive strategic partnership" between France and China and signed several agreements on trade, climate change, nuclear energy and culture.

The outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic in early 2020, which was first identified in China, led to Beijing effectively shutting its borders to travel and imposing strict quarantine measures on incoming visitors.

During the meeting, Li highlighted that China is willing to work with France to push the China-France comprehensive strategic partnership to a higher level.

Xi stated that China and the EU should strengthen communication, establish correct mutual perceptions and avoid misunderstanding and miscalculation.

"[20][21] On April 7, President Emmanuel Macron visited Sun Yat-sen University, which became the first in Southern China to launch a French department in 1957.

[23][24] On the afternoon of April 7, Xi held an informal meeting with Macron in Songyuan, Guangzhou City, Guangdong Province.

He indicated that France appreciated China's consistent support for France and Europe to adhere to independence, autonomy and unity, and was willing to respect each other's sovereignty and territorial integrity and other core interests, strengthen technical and industrial cooperation, open up bilateral markets, and strengthen scientific and technological cooperation, including in artificial intelligence.

[38] The company has a joint venture with CGNPC to build the world's first European Pressurized Water Reactor Generation III nuclear power plant in Taishan, Guangdong.