China is ready to enhance all-round exchanges and cooperation with France to bring the bilateral relationship to a higher level, the country's top legislator Zhao Leji said in Beijing on Thursday.
Zhao, chairman of the National People's Congress (NPC) Standing Committee, co-chaired the 12th meeting of the exchange mechanism between the legislative bodies of China and France with Yael Braun-Pivet, speaker of the French National Assembly, who is leading a delegation to visit China from June 25 to 28.
In his keynote speech, Zhao said that China and France should cement their friendship through mutual understanding, foster cooperation featuring mutual benefit, deepen cooperation in traditional sectors, expand cooperation in emerging fields of artificial intelligence and green and low-carbon technologies, and properly resolve trade differences through consultative dialog.
The two countries should cement the bonds of mutual understanding and mutual affection between their people, and strengthen coordination and cooperation in multilateral arena, he said.
Noting that the Taiwan question bears on China's core interests, Zhao said he believes that France will firmly uphold the one-China principle with concrete actions, and safeguard the political foundation of the bilateral relations.
China's National People's Congress is willing to work together with the French National Assembly to fully exert the functional roles of legislative bodies, and share experience in legislation and oversight, to provide legal support for pragmatic cooperation between the two countries, he said, adding that the NPC will enhance exchanges with the European Parliament, and contribute to the sound and stable development of China-EU ties.
In her keynote speech, Braun-Pivet noted that both France and China uphold multilateralism, and oppose unilateralism and protectionism.
In the face of the current severe international situation, it is of great significance for France and China to strengthen communication and solidarity, she said.
France hopes to work with China in the principle of mutual respect and mutual benefit, to promote cooperation in trade and investment, artificial intelligence, climate change, and culture and education, Braun-Pivet said.
The French National Assembly is ready to deepen dialog and exchanges with China's NPC, injecting fresh impetus into the development of France-China ties, she said.
China's top legislator co-chairs meeting with French National Assembly speaker
