China and France Consents on Multilateral World

Hu Jintao, the president of China, who concurrently holds the post of secretary general of the Communist Party, has commenced his itinerary in France on January 26.

His visit, which was accomplished to commemorate the 40th anniversary of an amity establishment between the two countries, is his first official tour of Europe since his inauguration. Although the tour continues to African countries such as Egypt, Gabon, and Algeria, his visit to France shows the “special relationship” between the two countries because his visit to Europe is limited only to France.

It is not only for the relationship. As powerful countries in the eastern and western hemisphere of world, the two countries have met to discuss the general international order at large, stirring the attention of foreign journalists. Some experts have assessed that their talk will lay the foundation of altering the unilateral status quo of U.S.-led hegemony.

Eiffel Tower Glittering Crimson Color –French president Jacque Chirac addressed in the summit talk, which was held on January 26, that France supports a “one China” policy. Soon after, at the dinner party held in the presidential residence, he criticized the Taiwanese plan of holding a national referendum scheduled for this March as a “critical mistake.”

On this day, the Eiffel Tower, not too far from the presidential residence, was glittering with a crimson hue. France has designated 2004 as the “year of China,” illuminating the Eiffel Tower with crimson that symbolizes China, in order to celebrate the Lunar New Year and Hu’s visit.

Mutual Consent to Multilateral World – “China and France have consented on the necessities of multilateral world,” remarked Hu at the dinner party. “Multilateral World” is Chirac’s key phrase as the person who has confronted the U.S.’s unilateral policy so far. The two summits discussed about the general problems of international society such as the Korean Peninsula issue, Iraq, Iran, Middle East, and Afghanistan problems.

In recent times, Europe’s expectation of China becoming a partner in order to restrain the unilateral policy of the U.S has increased. At the foreign ministers’ conference of the EU, which was held on January 26, the participants raised their voice to lift the arms sales embargo against China which has existed since the Beijing`s bloody 1989 crackdown on democracy protesters in Tiananmen Square.

As for China’s selection of France, which is no higher than fourth in the amount of trade to China, as the first destination of an official visit in Europe, some experts assessed that “it is an attempt to organize the ‘counter-U.S. axis’ which connects China and EU, based in France.”

Human Rights Is the Problem – The biggest obstacles in the “China-France axis” or “China-EU Axis” organization are the human rights problem in China. Chirac urged China at the dinner party that “respect of human rights is a critical condition for the sake of society and economy prosperity.”

However, China, which makes a tremendous amount of profit on the trade between itself and the U.S., cannot easily let their relationship between itself and France proceed. Hu focused on the “multilateral world” on this day, but he did not mention any expressions referring to the U.S.

Jei-Gyoon Park phark@donga.com