China and France Commit to Strengthening Bilateral Relations
In a significant meeting held in Beijing on Monday, Chinese Premier Li Qiang and French Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs Stéphane Séjourné discussed ways to deepen cooperation between China and France. This year marks the 60th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two nations, a milestone both leaders are keen to celebrate by enhancing bilateral ties.
Premier Li emphasized that China-France relations have long been at the forefront of China’s interactions with major Western countries. He noted that these relations not only benefit the peoples of both nations but also have a profound impact on global affairs. Li expressed China’s willingness to work with France to implement the important consensus reached by their heads of state, strengthen exchanges at all levels, and carry forward their traditional friendship.
“The economies of China and France are highly complementary,” Li stated. “China has always regarded France as a priority partner and is ready to tap the potential of cooperation in fields such as green energy, technological innovation, advanced manufacturing, artificial intelligence, and the digital economy.”
He also called on France to provide an open, fair, and non-discriminatory business environment for Chinese companies and to actively promote within the European Union adherence to economic and market rules. “Absence of cooperation and failure to develop are the biggest risks,” Li warned.
Minister Séjourné reaffirmed France’s commitment to an independent foreign policy, opposing bloc confrontation and the decoupling of supply chains. He emphasized that France firmly adheres to the one-China policy and is eager to work with China to deepen exchanges and cooperation in various fields. “France-China relations have an important impact on both countries and the world,” Séjourné said.
Both leaders agreed on the importance of strengthening multilateral coordination to inject more certainty into global development. As permanent members of the United Nations Security Council, China and France are positioned to make positive contributions to resolving international hotspot issues and improving global governance.
The meeting signals a mutual desire to advance the comprehensive strategic partnership between China and France, leveraging the historical significance of their 60-year diplomatic relationship to foster mutual benefit and win-win results for both nations and the broader international community.
Reference(s):
cgtn.com
