China and France should seize opportunities and expand the scope of cooperation, Chinese President Xi Jinping said while holding talks with visiting French President Emmanuel Macron in Beijing on Thursday.
As both visionary and responsible independent major countries, China and France serve as constructive forces in advancing multipolarity and promoting solidarity and cooperation among humanity, Xi said.
At present, as changes unseen in a century are accelerating, humanity once again stands at a crossroads, facing crucial choices about its future path, Xi noted, adding that China and France should demonstrate a sense of responsibility, uphold multilateralism, and stand firmly on the right side of history.
Xi said China is willing to work with France to always proceed from the fundamental interests of the two peoples and the long-term interests of the international community, while upholding equal dialogue and open cooperation, to ensure that the China-France comprehensive strategic partnership continues to advance steadily and thrives over the next 60 years, fully demonstrates its strategic value, and makes new contributions to promoting an equitable and orderly multipolar world as well as a universally beneficial and inclusive economic globalization.
Xi emphasized that regardless of changes of the external environment, China and France should always demonstrate the strategic vision and independence as major countries, understand and support each other on issues concerning each other's core interests and major concerns, and safeguard the political foundation of bilateral relations.
The fourth plenary session of the 20th Central Committee of the Communist Party of China deliberated over and adopted the recommendations for formulating the 15th Five-Year Plan, outlining a blueprint for China's development over the next five years and providing the world with a "list of opportunities," Xi noted.
China and France should seize opportunities and expand the scope of cooperation, consolidating cooperation in traditional fields such as aviation, aerospace and nuclear energy, while tapping into the potential for cooperation in areas including the green economy, digital economy, biopharmaceuticals, artificial intelligence and new energy, Xi said.
China is willing to import more high-quality French products, welcomes more French enterprises to develop in China, and also hopes that France will provide a fair environment and stable conditions for Chinese enterprises, Xi said.
Noting that the Chinese and French people share a natural sense of affinity, Xi urged both sides to deepen exchanges and cooperation in areas such as culture, education, science and technology, and at the sub-national level.
Xi emphasized that today's world is far from peaceful, with multiple complex hotspot issues taking place. He called on China and France, as founding members of the United Nations and permanent members of the Security Council, to practice genuine multilateralism, uphold the international system centered on the UN and the international order underpinned by international law, strengthen communication and cooperation on the political resolution of disputes and the promotion of world peace and stability, and promote the reform and improvement of global governance.
Noting many existing global imbalances, such as the uneven development between the North and the South and the insufficient representation of developing countries in international financial institutions, Xi said countries should share responsibilities and coordinate actions to jointly promote a more equitable, fair, and reasonable global economic governance.
Highlighting the win-win results and mutual success China and the EU have achieved through mutually beneficial cooperation in the past 50 years, Xi said that global supply chains are deeply intertwined, and open cooperation brings opportunities for development while "decoupling" means self-isolation. He said protectionism cannot solve the problem of world industrial structure adjustment but will worsen the international trade environment.
He said China and the EU should uphold their positioning as partners, and advance cooperation with an open attitude, and ensure that China-EU relations develop along the correct track of independence and win-win cooperation.
Macron stated that France and China maintain close high-level exchanges, always trusting and respecting each other. He said France attaches great importance to its relations with China, firmly adheres to the One-China policy, and is willing to continue deepening the comprehensive strategic partnership between the two countries.
He said France welcomes China's booming economic development, and its commitment to openness and cooperation which brings more opportunities to the world.
Macron said France is willing to promote mutual investment with China, strengthen cooperation in trade, renewable energy, and other fields, and promote friendly cultural exchanges.
France welcomes more Chinese companies to invest in France and is willing to provide a fair and non-discriminatory business environment, according to the French president.
Macron said France is committed to promoting the healthy and stable development of EU-China relations, believing that the EU and China should adhere to dialogue and cooperation and EU should achieve strategic autonomy.
He noted that in the face of unstable global geopolitical situations and shocks to the multilateral order, cooperation between France and China is particularly important and indispensable. Macron said France fully agrees with President Xi Jinping's views on reforming and improving global governance and promoting a more balanced global economy, and is willing to strengthen coordination with China, share the duties of major countries, uphold multilateralism, and enhance cooperation in addressing climate change, protecting biodiversity, and governing artificial intelligence, making contributions to world peace and prosperity.
The two heads of state also exchanged views on the Ukraine crisis. Xi stated that China supports all the efforts conducive to peace and will continue to play a constructive role in the political resolution of the crisis in its own way. He said China supports European countries in playing their due role in promoting the construction of a balanced, effective, and sustainable European security architecture.
Xi and Macron jointly witnessed the signing of multiple cooperation documents on nuclear energy, agriculture, food, education and ecological environment after their talks.
The two leaders also jointly met with press.
At noon, Xi and his wife hosted a welcome banquet for Macron and his wife, Brigitte, in the Golden Hall of the Great Hall of the People.
At the invitation of Xi, Macron arrived in Beijing on Wednesday for a state visit to China through Friday.
Xi holds talks with Macron, calling for expanded cooperation in multiple areas
Xi holds talks with Macron, calling for expanded cooperation in multiple areas
