A Study On The Development Of The Sino-French Relations From1964Up To Now

The thesis is devoted to the development of the Sino-French Relations from1964up to now.The whole thesis consists of three parts:Introduction, Text and Conclusion.In the introduction, we explain the background, justification, goal, significance and methodology of study and make a brief review of the related literature.The text is divided into five chapters.In the first Chapter of our work, we have done the historical survey of the relations between China and France before1964.China and France had a long history. The early contacts between China and the West were drawn by Marco Polo in the thirteenth century. The first confrontation between the civilizations of China and Europe occurred from about1600through the early Jesuit missionaries.After the first Opium War (1839-42) France sees China as a new market to explore and the French king, Louis-Philippe, decided to send an experienced diplomat to negotiate a commercial treaty.The Relations between the two countries inevitably had took a new stage during the Franco-Chinese War, which occurred between1881and1885, motivated by the desire of the French to have an establishment in Tonkin (Vietnam) to counter the British expansion.Finally, General de Gaulle officially recognized the People’s Republic of China on January27,1964. This date is the starting point for the new Franco-Chinese bilateral relations. On May27,1964the first ambassador of France in China, Mr. Lucien Paye, arrived in Beijing. Thus, France became the first major Western country to appoint a full time ambassador to Beijing. On June2,1964the Chinese ambassador in France, Mr. Huang Zhen, arrived in Paris. Thus, the establishment of the Sino-French relations is successful. This relationship, which continues today, although in a lesser extent, characterizes the relations between France and China. However, there have been different ruptures related to the history of China (Cultural Revolution1966-1976; Tian An Men, June1989; Olympic Torch, April2008; Dalai Lama, December2008).In the Chapter Ⅱ we highlighted the major achievements in the Franco-Chinese relations through the global partnership established on May16,1997in different areas:political, economic, scientific, social and cultural development.One of the major results Franco-Chinese relations is China’s accession to W.T.O.On September17,2001, the World Trade Organization has completed the negotiations on the terms of China’s accession to the W.T.O, and the text of the agreement was formally adopted at the Doha Ministerial Conference (Qatar) on November9-14,2001.The agreement reached on the accession of China to the W.T.O is the culmination of fifteen years of negotiations. France had long supported the candidacy China to the W.T.O and welcomed its entry into this organization.The accession of China to the W.T.O, which reflects the role of growing importance of China in the global economy and on the international stage, will positively impact the development of world trade and the regulatory mechanisms of W.T.O.We also evoke the case of Hong Kong. Hong Kong remains fundamental to the French establishments; it is a French platform for Trade and Finance in China.In the Chapter Ⅲ we analyze the local cooperation between France and China. This study therefore addresses the following issues, which are those of the the Sino-French local cooperation. First of all we have defined the scope of the local cooperation, observing how the local cooperation can be also a challenge on the national scene. About the actors of the local cooperation, we specify the basic premise to distinguish the central government and the local authorities. Thus, outside the State, the main actors of the local cooperation are National Associations of the elected officials (AMF: Association of Mayors of France; CPAFFC:Chinese People’s Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries; CUF:United Cities of France; ARF:Assembly of Regions of France; ADF:Association of Departments of France; etc...) and other categories of actors (Agencies and Companies). Finally, in this Chapter we examined two examples of the the twinning between Chinese and French cities:The case of Toulouse City and City of Chongqing and the particular case of Aubervilliers and Wenzhou.In the Chapter Ⅳ we have analyzed the role of France in the development of the relations between China and EU. Indeed, France is a founding member of the European Union and one of the Countries most influential of this organization. The European Union is an Economic Union, which tends to become a Political Union stuffy the bilateralism that exists between China and France.For thirty years, despite the differences between China and the European Union, they have developed a very close relationship. These relations have grown considerably making them major economic partners. But at the political level, partnerships have been limited despite the convergence of viewpoints on the global governance and the conflict management. China does not yet consider the European Community as a real political entity and therefore gives a secondary role on the international stage. However, there is now a certain inflection of European policy to its Chinese partner thanks to France.The EU and China are still seeking to deep their relationship by showing the common desire to build Gobal strategic relationships.France was the first country to express his desire in order that the EU established closer ties with China, in order to found a multipolar world.The Chapter Ⅴ characterizes the Major Problems (Tian An Men, June1989; Taiwan Crisis1992; Tibet, March2008and Dalai Lama,2008; Olympic Torch, April2008) and prospects of the Sino-French relations.On June3-4,1989, France under the pretext that the Chinese government has quelled and crushed the disturbances in Tian An Men (Beijing) has punished China by selling arms to Taiwan, which has meant that the relations between the two countries have fallen lowest in the early90’s.In2008, the relations between China and France have suffered of thunderstorms. First, it was the stage in Paris Torch relay of the Beijing Olympic Games (April2008) that has been disturbed. Second, the French government tried to "politicize" the Olympics Games by threatening to boycott the opening ceremony held in Beijing and then towards the end of the year (December2008), the highest French leader Nicolas Sarkozy had persisted to meet the Dalai Lama in Poland. Dalai Lama is a political exile and has been committed to the activities aimed to separate the Chinese motherland. The Tibet issue concerns the sovereignty and the territorial integrity of China. So it is vitally important for China which thinks that no other country has the right to interfere to this issue.The attitude and the position of France have gravely and seriously undermined China’s core interests, which meant that the bilateral relations between the two countries have sunk into the worst crisis since the early90’s.Why the French always launches the attacks against China, attacks that have caused tension in bilateral relations? First, the new French leaders, who had to climb on stage, were not familiar with the principle position of China, so their policy towards China is unstable and showed that they were trying to change the constant. Moreover, they tried, as leaders of a great country, to intervene in the affairs of China on the exchange rate of the RMB (Chinese currency), the trade deficit, China’s policy towards Africa and the friendly franco-Chinese cooperation applied by their predecessors.Developed around the concept of the multi-polarity, the "Global Partnership"(May16,1997) serves as a basis for the Franco-chinese cooperation in the political, economic and cultural exchanges.The French economic and cultural presence in China is still not entirely satisfactory; but the concepts of the multi-polarity and the cultural plurality govern the Franco-Chinese dialogue.The dialogue is often difficult such as on the subjects of human rights, Tibet; but it is necessary.During the G20Summit (London, April2,2009) between the two leaders (Hu Jintao and Nikolas Sarkozy), Hu Jintao outlines the perspectives of the Franco-Chinese relations. President Hu Jintao said:"The development of the the Sino-French relationship is friendly, stable and sustainable in the fundamental interests of our two countries and two peoples, and that we must "consider and address these relationships in the strategic and long term." He further stated that both sides should "properly handle their differences and the sensitive issues on the basis of the mutual respect and taking into account their respective core interests".After these five Parts (Chapter Ⅰ,Ⅱ, Ⅲ,Ⅳ, and Ⅴ) we tried to draw some General Conclusions. Despite the multiple crises they had suffered, the Franco-Chinese relations are a good example of the bilateral cooperation in the political, economic, scientific, social and cultural fields.