China and France sign contracts worth $15bn during Macron's visit

A Chinese government official said at a news briefing that the deals were struck in the fields of aeronautics, energy and agriculture.

Agriculture deals included approval for 20 French companies to export poultry, beef and pork to China. They also agreed to expand a protocol for poultry and other animal exports.

Energy deals included a memorandum of understanding between Beijing Gas Group and French utility Engie to collaborate on a liquefied natural gas terminal and storage in the city of Tianjin.

Also France’s Total will set up a joint venture with China’s Shenergy Group to distribute LNG by truck in the Yangtze River Delta. During Macron’s visit, both sides issued a joint statement reaffirming their strong support for the “irreversible” Paris Agreement on climate change, from which the US announced its exit this week.

The two countries “reaffirm their strong support for the Paris Agreement, which they consider an irreversible process and a compass for strong action on the climate,” the statement said.

China and France pledged at this year’s G20 summit to “update” their contributions against climate change beyond their current ones to reflect “their highest possible ambition.”