China France Photo:VCG

China and France, China and the EU should adhere to the spirit of independence and autonomy, as well as openness and cooperation to push bilateral relations for steady progress on the right track and inject stability and positive energy into the world, Chinese President Xi Jinping said during a meeting with French President Emmanuel Macron on Tuesday. China hopes France will push the EU to continue to pursue an independent and positive China policy, Xi said. 

Xi noted during the meeting in Bali, Indonesia that in the past three years, the two sides have communicated closely through various means, so that China-France relations have maintained positive momentum of development, and the two countries have made positive progress on important cooperation.

Xi said China's unswerving efforts to promote high-level opening-up and its stride to advance the Chinese modernization will provide new opportunities for all countries in the world, including France. China also hopes that France will provide a fairer, more equitable and non-discriminatory business environment for the development of Chinese enterprises in France.

He stressed that both sides should show mutual respect to each other's core interests and major concerns and deepen pragmatic cooperation to promote continuous new progress in traditional areas and actively explore the potential for cooperation in areas such as green energy, science and technology innovation.

China and the EU have also formed a strong economic symbiosis that has developed over the years, Xi said. The two sides should expand two-way trade and investment, maintain a stable and smooth operation of the global industrial chain, and safeguard international economic and trade rules and order.

China hopes France will push the EU to continue to pursue an independent and positive China policy. China is willing to work with France to promote the success of the G20 Summit, strengthen cooperation in multiple aspects and jointly safeguard genuine multilateralism, Xi said. 

French President Emmanuel Macron extended warm congratulations on Xi's re-election as general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and the full success of the 20th CPC National Congress.

Macron said that both France and China are dedicated to the peaceful global development and economic prosperity. France upholds independent diplomacy and opposes bloc confrontation. France hopes to continue to uphold the spirit of mutual respect, equality and reciprocity with the Chinese side, strengthen high-level exchanges and dialogues, and deepen cooperation in such fields as economy and trade, aviation, as well as civil nuclear energy, and welcomes Chinese enterprises to carry out cooperation in France, Macron said.

France is willing to strengthen multilateral communication and collaboration with China to jointly address global issues such as climate change, food crisis and biodiversity conservation, and to actively promote dialogue and cooperation between the EU and China, Macron said. 

The two countries also exchanged views on the situation in Ukraine. Xi stressed that China's position on the Ukraine crisis is clear and consistent, and China advocates ceasefire, cessation of war, and peace talks.

Global Times