Chinese Vice Premier Zhang Guoqing joined a video conference hosted by French President Emmanuel Macron on Thursday as concerns over global economic imbalances grow ahead of next week’s G7 summit.
The meeting, “Global Convergence for Growth,” took place days before G7 leaders will gather in Évian-les-Bains from June 15–17 for a summit, during which trade tensions and China’s expanding export surplus are expected to feature prominently.
“Our common goal should be clear. It is to put the global economy back on a stronger growth path,” Macron said at the opening of the talks. He said that “coordination is key” to avoid abrupt economic and financial disruptions.
China’s Foreign Ministry said Zhang attended at the invitation of the French government in a rare example of Beijing engaging directly with a forum linked to the G7. Beijing has long accused the group of being unrepresentative of the broader international order.
France, which holds this year’s G7 presidency, has made global economic imbalances a central issue. French officials view the talks as part of an effort to find cooperative solutions before the European Union decides whether to take a tougher trade stance toward China.
European concerns have intensified as China’s trade and current account surpluses have increased. According to Chinese foreign exchange data, the country’s current account surplus reached a record $735 billion in 2025.
Critics said that growing Chinese exports, particularly in sectors such as electric vehicles and batteries, are placing increasing pressure on European manufacturers, while Chinese officials reject allegations that state support gives exporters an unfair advantage.
The discussion builds on months of diplomatic engagement between Paris and Beijing. Macron met Chinese leader Xi Jinping in Beijing in December 2025, when he urged China to help rebalance economic relations through cooperation rather than forcing Europe toward more protectionist measures.
Since then, several G7 leaders have visited China as governments seek to manage growing economic tensions.
The issue has also gained prominence within the G7. Finance ministers who met last month agreed that coordinated action was needed to address what they described as excessive global imbalances, reflecting concerns that widening trade gaps could increase economic and financial risks.
While China is not a G7 member, its role in the global economy is expected to be a major topic at both the summit and a subsequent meeting of European Union leaders.
No joint statement from Thursday’s video conference had been released by French or Chinese authorities as of Thursday evening.
Reuters contributed to this report.
