STORY: :: Chengdu, China
:: December 5, 2025
:: China's President Xi takes France's President Macron on a trip outside Beijing, a rare gesture during state visits
The French president alongside his wife, Brigitte Macron, joined Xi at the historical Dujiangyan dam. Xi was also joined by his wife, Peng Liyuan. The dam has managed water flows around Chengdu since the 3rd century B.C.
Xi led the tour of the dam site which also included visits to local historical buildings. They spoke to one another through translators.
A meeting in the Chinese capital on Thursday (December 4) produced just 12 cooperation agreements covering topics like population ageing, nuclear energy and panda conservation. No monetary amounts were disclosed, though Macron is being accompanied for his fourth state visit to China by the heads of some of France's most prominent companies.
The Chinese leader was not expected to approve a long-anticipated, 500-jet Airbus order, as that would weaken Beijing's leverage during trade talks with the U.S., which is pressing for new Boeing purchase commitments.
