Macron engages in ping pong diplomacy during China visit
發佈日期: 2025-12-06 22:03
TVB News
French President Emmanuel Macron left China after a three-day state visit but not before engaging in some ping pong diplomacy.
French President Emmanuel Macron paid a visit to the Sichuan Provincial Gymnasium, where he visited French athletes competing in the International Table Tennis Mixed Team World Cup.
The president even picked up a table tennis bat for a short rally with players from both the French and Chinese national teams, which included Olympic champions.
Earlier, after a meeting with President Xi Jinping, Macron spent the afternoon focused on youth engagement and people-to-people exchanges.
At Sichuan University, Macron delivered a speech and engaged with Chinese students on global issues and the future of bilateral cooperation.
The city holds historic significance in bilateral ties between China and France.
In 1981, Chengdu and the French city of Montpellier established a friendship city relationship, becoming the first pair of sister cities between the two countries.
The Macrons departed Chengdu on Friday evening, concluding what was seen as a fruitful trip to China on his third visit to the country.
It was a reciprocal visit following President Xi's historic trip to France last year that marked the 60th anniversary of China-France diplomatic relations.
Former French Prime Minister, Jean-Pierre Raffarin, also in Chengdu, said the meeting between Xi and Macron held great importance because it marks a new path forward.
He said the French side had three missions for this trip: strengthen trade partnerships, develop a vision for global governance and reforming multilateralism, and strengthen cultural cooperation between the two countries.
