Asia welcomes bon ami Chirac
By Eric Teo Chu Cheow (China Daily)
Updated: 2004-10-11 10:21

French President Jacques Chirac, on a state visit to China, launch the "Year of France in China" Sunday in Beijing.

He arrived in China from Singapore where he stopped over on his trip, dubbed his continuing "30-year liaison with Asia."

Monsieur Chirac has indeed been an avid admirer of Asia and Asian culture and civilization, and is said to possess great knowledge of the region. He has a personal and particular passion for China and Japan and their ancient civilizations. He is known to have made on average two trips per year to Asia before becoming President of France in 1995. Such dedication to understanding our lands marks President Chirac out as a true friend of Asia.

However, beyond the persona of the French president, France holds at least four important strategic values for Asia, and more so for China and Singapore.

Firstly, France and Chirac have proven to be a moral and authoritative voice in international affairs, ranging from the war in Iraq and climatic changes to social redistribution and world poverty alleviation. Paris did not flinch during its campaign against Washington over Iraq, as it led an "alternative coalition," together with Germany and Russia against US-led coalition.

Moreover President Chirac had buoyant support from widespread European public opinion. More recently, France, after pressing for the Kyoto Treaty on climatic concerns, proposed a controversial "tax" for poverty alleviation, to be paid by richer countries, which again solicited cool reservations from Washington and its allies, but received support from numerous Third World leaders, ranging from Brazil to Africa.

However, Chirac does court widespread controversy on issues such as the Islamic world. He banned Muslim head-scarfs and other religious signs from French public schools, amidst protests from some Muslim quarters and two French hostages held in Iraq. Singapore values his stance, as it holds similar views on separating religion from public education.

Other European countries are following this saga closely, as they would undoubtedly follow France's example in their public schools, too. France therefore remains an example for Europe - and China could also take heart in this French philosophy of separating religion and state.

Secondly, the French economy, though not the largest or the most powerful in the EU today, is nevertheless still a force to contend with, especially in certain key sectors like the agro-food industry, fashion and luxury products, aeronautics, bio-tech, industrial and handicraft designing, architectural services and other creative industries, which have sealed the reputation of the country. Both China and Singapore could follow the development of France's creative industries, as we climb the ladder of creativity. From advertising giants (Publicis and Euro RSCG) and street furniture expert (JC Decaux) to luxury goods giant (LVMH) and vacation and lifestyle concept trail-blazer (Club Med), France has much to offer us in terms of creative industries which we could certainly emulate in our own economic development.

Moreover, its prowess in terms of tourism, as well as the renaissance of its film industry, has much to offer to China and Singapore, as means of co-operation and lessons for us to garner.

Thirdly, France's role and position within the EU cannot be underestimated. Its "tandem" partnership with Germany within the expanded EU is still a force to reckon with, and the inauguration of a prospective Paris-Berlin-Madrid axis today within the expanded EU could prove decisive in future European decisions, especially as a Frenchman today commands the European Central Bank in Frankfurt.

France plays an important role within Europe economically, socially, culturally and politically, given Paris' permanent seat in the UN Security Council, together with Britain, and its G-7 status. China and Singapore would indeed do well to continue its close co-operation with France in maintaining their overall warm and multi-faceted relations with the EU.

Lastly, France is still one of the world's top arms manufacturers and Beijing hopes to seek Paris' help to lift the EU arms embargo against China. There is already on-going technical co-operation between French arms experts and their Singapore counterparts. China could develop this new area of co-operation with France as well, when the EU embargo is ultimately lifted.

Furthermore, there is scope for co-operation between the three countries in combating terrorism and in coordinating strategies against Muslin fundamentalists, especially as France hosts the biggest Muslim population on European soil today. Security co-operation is thus the fourth strategic value of France to both China and Singapore.

President Chirac's stop-over in Singapore at the start of his Asian tour was significant, as the French President came to visit his old friends, Minister Mentor Lee Kuan Yew and Senior Minister Goh Chok Tong, as well as to renew ties with Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong, whom he met in Paris earlier this year. To Goh, Chirac was one of the first firm supporters of his "brainchild," the Asia-Europe Meeting or ASEM, whose inauguration Chirac made a special effort to attend in Bangkok in March 1996.

Given his firm Asian conviction, Chirac then represented France at the fifth ASEM meeting in Hanoi last week, and thus paid tribute once again to an emerging and rising Asia.

But Chirac's state visit to China is perhaps the highlight of his Asian tour, as he fully recognizes the rise of China in Asian and international affairs. Chirac also intends to renew his personal ties with Chinese leaders, from President Hu Jintao, whom he invited to the Evian Summit last summer, to former President Jiang Zemin, whom he knows well. To Chirac, his visit to Asia is indeed a visit to old and new friends from an avid admirer of Asia and its civilization.

The author is council secretary of the Singapore Institute for International Affairs.

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