Chinese President Xi Jinping on Monday held talks with French President Emmanuel Macron on relations between their two countries and major international issues of common concern.
At the talks held in the Elysee Palace in downtown Paris, Xi expressed his delight in making his third state visit to France at the 60th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and France.
The precious 60-year journey of the China-France relationship will remind the two countries to ponder on how to usher in the next 60 years, Xi said.
As the world undergoes transformation unseen in a century, the two sides should stay committed to independence, mutual understanding, long-term vision, mutual benefit and win-win outcome, which is in line with the spirit that guided the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries, Xi said.
The two sides should also enrich the bilateral relations with new features of the new era, and build a China-France relationship in the new era characterized by mutual trust, stability, commitment to fundamental principles while breaking new ground, and a strong sense of responsibility, said the Chinese president.
The two sides should uphold independence, and jointly prevent a "new Cold War" or bloc confrontation; adhere to mutual understanding, and jointly promote harmonious coexistence in a colorful world; take a long view, and work together for an equal and orderly multipolar world; and pursue win-win cooperation, and jointly oppose decoupling and cutting off supply chains, Xi said.
Xi stressed that China is ready to maintain strategic communication with France, respect each other's core interests, consolidate the strategic stability of bilateral relations, unleash the great potential of mutually beneficial cooperation, and strive for upward balance in bilateral trade.
China is ready to import more high-quality products from France and enable the "French farm to Chinese dining table" mechanism to deliver more practical outcomes, according to Xi.
He also expressed the hope for France to export more high-tech products with high added value to China.
The two sides should better synergize their development strategies, deepen cooperation in areas of traditional strength such as aerospace and aviation, and step up cooperation on nuclear energy, innovation and finance, and expand cooperation in emerging areas such as green energy, smart manufacturing, biomedicine and artificial intelligence (AI), said the Chinese president.
According to Xi, China has fully opened up its manufacturing sector, and will move faster to expand market access in the service sector such as telecommunication and medical services.
Xi said China welcomes investment by more French companies and also hopes that France will provide a good business environment and stable development expectation for investment and cooperation by Chinese companies in France.
Xi emphasized that China and France, as major countries with rich cultures, should accelerate people-to-people exchanges, continue to successfully organize events including the China-France Year of Culture and Tourism, and actively advance cooperation on joint protection and restoration of cultural heritage and pairing between world heritage sites, said Xi.
China welcomes visits by more friends from France and will extend the short-stay visa-exemption policy for citizens from 12 countries including France to the end of 2025, bring the total number of French students in China to more than 10,000, and double the number of young Europeans on exchange programs to China in the next three years, Xi said.
China supports France in hosting a great Paris 2024 Olympic Games, to which China will send a strong delegation, he said.
China is ready to deepen cooperation with France in areas such as climate response and biodiversity, Xi said, adding that China supports France in hosting a successful UN Ocean Conference, and encourages partnerships between the relevant national parks and natural reserves of the two countries.
China is also willing to strengthen dialogue and communication with France in areas including AI governance and the reform of the international financial system, Xi said.
Macron noted that France and China will celebrate the 60th anniversary of their diplomatic relations this year.
The two countries enjoy a friendly relationship and productive cooperation regarding not just cutting-edge technologies but also global issues such as climate change and marine biodiversity, he said.
During President Xi's visit, the two sides signed many cooperation agreements, which once again showcases the potential and prospects of France-China cooperation, said Macron.
Noting that the world now faces many pressing challenges, and that the profound and rich France-China relationship is at a critical juncture of building on the past and looking to the future, Macron said that the two sides, through mutual respect, long-term perspective and strengthened cooperation, will play an important and positive role in addressing global challenges and opposing any logic of bloc confrontation.
France would like to have closer economic ties and multilateral communication and collaboration with China, and work for more outcomes in the France-China strategic partnership, said Macron.
France hopes to export more agricultural products to China. At the same time, it will continue to open its market to China, and will not adopt discriminatory policies against Chinese companies, said the French president.
Macron said France welcomes investment and cooperation by more Chinese companies, including high-tech firms.
France is ready to step up cooperation with China in such areas as aerospace and aviation, and nuclear energy for civilian use, and jointly hold the France-China Year of Culture and Tourism activities, he said.
France welcomes the Chinese delegation to the Paris Olympic Games, said Macron, adding that France is willing to stay in close communication and cooperation with China on global issues including climate change, biodiversity protection and AI, and jointly uphold multilateralism, the UN Charter and international law.
The two sides also had an in-depth exchange of views on international and regional issues of mutual interest including the Ukraine crisis and the Palestinian-Israeli conflict.
Xi pointed out that today's world is far from being tranquil.
China and France, both as permanent members of the UN Security Council, should speak out for peaceful settlement of hotspot issues and contribute to a world of lasting peace and common security, Xi said.
China will work with France to advocate, on the occasion of the Paris Olympic Games, a cessation of hostilities around the world during the Games, Xi said.
The two sides issued four joint statements on the situation in the Middle East, on AI and global governance, on biodiversity and oceans, and on agricultural exchanges and cooperation.
Close to 20 bilateral cooperation documents were signed in such areas as green development, aviation, agrifood, commerce and people-to-people exchanges.
After the talks, Xi and Macron held a joint meeting with the press.
On the evening, Macron and his wife Brigitte Macron held a welcoming banquet for Xi and his wife Peng Liyuan at the Elysee Palace.
Xi, Macron hold talks on relations, major international issues
Xi, Macron hold talks on relations, major international issues
