Xi, Macron attend closing ceremony of seventh meeting of China-France Business Council

Chinese President Xi Jinping and French President Emmanuel Macron attended and addressed the closing ceremony of the seventh meeting of the China-France Business Council on Thursday in Beijing.

Noting this year opens up the second 60 years of China-France diplomatic relations, Xi highlighted that bilateral economic and trade cooperation has been continuously expanding and becoming more resilient, with total two-way trade value amounting to 68.75 billion U.S. dollars and cumulative investment exceeding 27 billion U.S. dollars in the first 10 months of this year.

Xi said the two sides must work together to seize opportunities and deepen cooperation, push for steady and sustained progress in developing bilateral ties, and jointly write a more beautiful chapter of China-France cooperation.

Xi noted that the two sides should respond to uncertainties in today's world with the stability of China-France relations.

He called on both sides to continuously expand new areas of bilateral economic and trade cooperation, keep fostering new progress in mutually beneficial China-EU cooperation, and jointly make fresh contributions to the reform and improvement of global governance.

China considers France as an important and indispensable economic and trade partner, Xi said, adding that China welcomes France to actively participate in the Chinese modernization drive and supports Chinese enterprises capable of and interested in investing and starting business in France.

Both sides must tap into the potential for cooperation in emerging fields such as artificial intelligence, green and digital economy, biomedicine and silver economy, continuously promote the openness and cooperation in industrial and supply chains, and provide a fair, transparent, non-discriminatory and predictable business environment for enterprises of their respective countries, Xi said.

Noting that this year marks the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties between China and the European Union, Xi said China-EU economic and trade relations, which are shaped by their mutual complementarity and are win-win in nature, are fully capable of achieving a dynamic balance in development.

Interdependency is not a risk, and convergent interests are not a threat, he emphasized.

He called for joint efforts from China and France in helping China and the EU stay committed to their comprehensive strategic partnership and ensuring that China-EU relations enjoy another brighter 50 years.

Noting that this year marks the 80th anniversary of the victory of the World Anti-Fascist War and the founding of the United Nations, Xi said he has put forward the Global Governance Initiative, after the global initiatives on development, security and civilization.

China and France must practice true multilateralism, jointly safeguard the status and authority of the United Nations, uphold the rules-based multilateral trading system with the World Trade Organization at its core, and contribute positive energy to the reform and improvement of global governance. China will advance Chinese modernization in all respects and expand high-level opening up, Xi said, adding that the country welcomes French entrepreneurs to continue sharing the dividends of China's development.

About 150 representatives from the Chinese and French governments and business communities as well as those from other sectors in both countries attended the ceremony.

Xi, Macron attend closing ceremony of seventh meeting of China-France Business Council

Xi, Macron attend closing ceremony of seventh meeting of China-France Business Council

Xi, Macron attend closing ceremony of seventh meeting of China-France Business Council

Xi, Macron attend closing ceremony of seventh meeting of China-France Business Council

Xi, Macron attend closing ceremony of seventh meeting of China-France Business Council

The 24th Mawei-Matsu Lantern Festival, a national-level intangible cultural heritage event, opened on Wednesday in Fuzhou, capital city of east China's Fujian Province, to greet the Year of the Horse, which begins on Feb 17.

The festival is underway at a shipbuilding cultural park, where brilliant lantern installations are artfully integrated into the century-old remains of the former shipbuilding industry, creating a striking contrast that blends maritime heritage with festive light art.

Lanterns shaped like horses and the first steamship built by the shipyard, stand alongside a variety of intricate designs, blending holiday spirit with maritime history.

"This is my first visit here. I have seen lanterns shaped like fish and horses, and I like them very much," said a kid.

The festival originated from the Lantern Festival customs shared between Mawei and Mazu. It is the earliest and now most regularized two-way exchange activity between the two places, with the mutual presentation of lanterns serving as one of its most distinctive traditional features.

The celebration is recognized as China's first cross-Strait national intangible cultural heritage project. In 2024, it, along with the Chinese New Year, was added to the UNESCO Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.

Running till March 8, the 33-day celebration serves as a luminous bridge connecting Fuzhou's Mawei district and Matsu.

"I've been to the festival four or five times, and it has left a deep impression on me. The festival gets better every year, with very distinctive features. We hope to spend more time together with our compatriots from Matsu," said Zhao Ping, a visitor.

"We've incorporated elements of shipbuilding culture, the local culture, and maritime culture into the lantern design. We welcome everyone to Fuzhou and celebrate the Chinese New Year here," said Lin Hebin, deputy director of the Bureau of Culture, Sports and Tourism in Mawei District.

Mawei-Matsu Lantern Festival opens in east China, honoring cross-Strait cultural heritage