China France Photo:VCG

The high-level exchanges between China and France have maintained strong recent momentum, the Chinese Foreign Ministry said on Monday. The two sides agreed on deepening comprehensive and high-quality cooperation, expanding openness and tackling global challenges. 

Foreign Minister Wang Yi held talks with French Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs Catherine Colonna and co-chaired the 6th meeting of the China-France high-level dialogue mechanism on people-to-people exchanges. Both sides agreed on the following tasks for the next phase including successfully organize the Year of China-France with a variety of celebratory activities planned around the 60th anniversary of China-France diplomatic relations and the Year of Culture and Tourism in 2024, the ministry's spokesperson Wang Wenbin said. 

The two sides also agreed on deepening comprehensive, high-quality cooperation, with continued use of strategic, economic, financial, and cultural dialogue mechanisms, and creating new channels for exchanges and dialogue. 

There will be further cooperation in traditional fields of strength such as civil nuclear energy and aerospace, exploration of new areas like education, scientific research, energy transition, and sustainable development, active exploration of third-party market cooperation, and promotion of high-quality Belt and Road Initiative development, Wang Wenbin said. 

They also agreed on expanding mutual openness, with China willing to work with France to make the "from French farms to Chinese tables" mechanism a signature achievement of China-France cooperation. 

China continues to pursue high-quality development and high-level opening-up, offering opportunities for more French companies to develop in China, and hoping France will continue to provide an open business environment for Chinese enterprises.

The two countries also aim to jointly address global challenges, with both sides uniting to safeguard the Paris Agreement framework and support the success of the United Nations Climate Change Conference in Dubai which begins  coming days. 

Colonna kicked off a two-day visit to China on Thursday and co-hosted the 6th meeting of the China-France high-level dialogue mechanism on people-to-people exchanges with Wang Yi on Friday, paving the way for more activities in 2024 to mark the 60th anniversary of the establishment of China-France diplomatic ties.

During Colonna's visit to China, the China-France carbon neutrality center was officially launched, with the foreign ministers of both countries attending the inauguration ceremony. 

This sent a strong signal of China-France cooperation in green technology and joint efforts to tackle climate change, Wang Wenbin said. 

At the high-level cultural exchange mechanism meeting, the foreign ministers witnessed the signing of cooperation documents in education, scientific research, culture, tourism, health, amongst others, and jointly released the list of premium cultural exchange activities scheduled for 2024, unveiled the logos for the 60th anniversary of China-France diplomatic relations and the Year of Culture and Tourism. 

China will implement a 15-day visa exemption policy for French short-term visitors to China, while France will issue longer-term visas to Chinese graduate students, the spokesperson said. 

Standing at a new historical starting point, China is willing to work with France to renew traditions, look to the future, and make the China-France comprehensive strategic partnership more solid, more dynamic, and keep China-France cooperation at the forefront of the world, Wang Wenbin noted.