Storyline: Former French officials have highlighted the importance of international collaboration for building a multilateral system amid global challenges as French President Emmanuel Macron's state visit to China quickly approaches. At the invitation of Chinese President Xi Jinping, French President Emmanuel Macron will pay a state visit to China from Dec 3 to 5. Ahead of the visit, Laurent Fabius, former Prime Minister of France, emphasized the necessity of broad collaboration in addressing global challenges. "If we want to solve the world's main problems, we must have a multilateral approach. None of the major issues today can be solved by a single country. And that, this willingness to work together, is a fundamental point in common between China and France," said Fabius. Pierre Lellouche, former Secretary of State for Foreign Trade of France, emphasized the need to establish a new global balance, while also expressing his confidence in China's readiness to rise to the task. "We are in a moment of great global upheaval. The balance of power is changing. It is important that China will naturally be an absolutely major power in the system. So we need to have a kind of new world order, I hope a peaceful one, and an agreement between the main powers on common issues: security, the environment and the most balanced trade relations possible. So there is a lot to do," he said. Shotlist: FILE: Paris, France - May 6, 2024: 1. Various of Elysee Palace; French national flag FILE: Paris, France - 2015: 2. Various of French National Assembly Paris, France - Dec 1, 2025: 3. SOUNDBITE (French) Laurent Fabius, former Prime Minister of France (starting with shot 2/ending with shot 4): "If we want to solve the world's main problems, we must have a multilateral approach. None of the major issues today can be solved by a single country. And that, this willingness to work together, is a fundamental point in common between China and France." FILE: Paris, France - April 28, 2024: 4. Various of Arc de Triomphe, national flag of France 5. Various of Eiffel Tower, boats on river Paris, France - Dec 1, 2025: 6. SOUNDBITE (French) Pierre Lellouche, former Secretary of State for Foreign Trade of France (starting with shot 5/ending with shot 7): "We are in a moment of great global upheaval. The balance of power is changing. It is important that China will naturally be an absolutely major power in the system. So we need to have a kind of new world order, I hope a peaceful one, and an agreement between the main powers on common issues: security, the environment and the most balanced trade relations possible. So there is a lot to do." FILE: Paris, France - Date Unknown: 7. Various of pedestrians, traffic FILE: Paris, France - March 26-27, 2019: 8. Various of Arc de Triomphe, national flag of France FILE: Beijing, China - Date Unknown: 9. Aerial shot of Tian'anmen Square, Chinese national flag 10. Tian'anmen Rostrum, ornamental column