Xavier Girre, CEO of environmental firm SUEZ, speaks during an interview with Xinhua in Beijing, capital of China, Dec. 4, 2025.(Xinhua/Guo Peiran)

by Xinhua writers Wu Qiong, Tang Shining, Guo Peiran

BEIJING, Dec. 5 (Xinhua) -- Xavier Girre, CEO of environmental firm SUEZ, has emphasized the company's long-term commitment to China's green development, pointing to the country's rapid urbanization, innovation ecosystem, and ambitious ecological policies as key drivers.

"China is really a great place to operate in and to partner with key Chinese companies," Girre told Xinhua in an exclusive interview during his visit to China as part of French President Emmanuel Macron's business delegation to the country. Macron's three-day state visit to China concluded on Friday.

Girre highlighted the strong ties between the French and Chinese business communities, and stressed that economic and trade cooperation is very important for both countries.

During the trip, Girre announced that SUEZ has signed two new cooperation agreements with Chinese partners from Jiangsu and Shandong provinces. These deals reaffirm the company's commitment to deepening collaboration in China's water and waste management sector, he noted.

Girre's confidence in the Chinese market stems from 50 years of business development in the country, which reflects the success of bilateral cooperation amid China's vast market potential in the environmental sector.

"The scale of China's urbanization, combined with its ambitious environmental policies, provides fertile ground for innovation in water treatment, waste recycling, and circular economy solutions," he explained. In China, SUEZ has partnered with major cities, industrial parks, and leading industrial groups to pilot innovative solutions aimed at improving resource efficiency and reducing carbon emissions.

For Girre, China is not only a market where SUEZ can leverage its global technological advantages, but also a platform for cooperation with local partners to meet the country's specific needs. This, he said, is made possible by China's thriving innovation capabilities.

"China's innovation ecosystem in the water and waste management industry has become a powerful engine for progress," Girre said, hailing the country's pioneering work in smart water operations, digital monitoring, and circular economy models.

He noted that SUEZ's R&D centers in China play a vital role in the company's global innovation efforts, enabling it to tailor solutions to local demands while contributing to international best practices.

Citing positive changes in China's regulatory framework and the country's growing emphasis on ecological priorities, Girre said these measures have created a supportive environment for companies like SUEZ to invest and deliver long-term solutions.

This environment encourages the company to go beyond its past successes, keep innovating, and deliver greater value for its local partners and communities in the Chinese market, he said.

Looking ahead, SUEZ has outlined key priorities for business development in China over the next five years. "We expect to see more joint projects in fast-growing urban clusters and key industrial regions where environmental infrastructure is expanding rapidly," Girre said. ■