Catherine Colonna is counting on Beijing’s “vigilance” against any support for “Russia’s illegal war effort”

During a visit to Beijing, French Foreign Minister Catherine Colonna also made a series of announcements on visas, as well as agreements in the fields of culture, research and health.

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French Foreign Minister Catherine Colonna delivers a speech during the China-France carbon neutrality launch ceremony on November 24, 2023 at Peking University (China).  (JADE GAO / POOL / AFP)

“We are counting on the vigilance of the Chinese authorities to ensure that no structure in China, particularly private, contributes directly or indirectly to Russia’s illegal war effort”said French Foreign Minister Catherine Colonna, at the end of a short visit to Beijing, Friday November 24.

In this conflict, “cooperation with China is essential to foster a just and lasting peace”she pleaded during a joint press conference with her counterpart Wang Yi, after reminding her interlocutor that China and France were “permanent members of the Security Council” and had, as such, “global responsibilities”.

New measures announced

Li Qiang, for his part, highlighted the “positive trend in Sino-French cooperation on all fronts”, including those that do not concern the war in Ukraine. Catherine Colonna also took advantage of this visit to announce new measures on visas and agreements in the fields of culture, research and health.

Among them, the creation of a Franco-Chinese carbon neutrality center, the possibility for French people to travel to China without a visa for stays not exceeding 15 days and an agreement on educational cooperation, which aims in particular to strengthen the teaching French in China.


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