French President Emmanuel Macron met with visiting member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and Foreign Minister Wang Yi in Paris on February 20, 2024. Photo: Chinese Foreign Ministry

French President Emmanuel Macron met with visiting member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and Foreign Minister Wang Yi in Paris on Tuesday local time. Macron fondly recalled his successful visit to China last year, expressing anticipation for jointly preparing for this year's high-level exchanges with the Chinese side.

Wang first conveyed warm regards from Chinese President Xi Jinping, stating that the leaders of the two countries have established a strong mutual trust and sincere friendship, guiding the direction of bilateral strategic cooperation and exerting significant positive influence on the world. 

This year marks the 60th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and France, which holds important significance for carrying forward the past and ushering in the future. Both sides should seize this opportunity to summarize the extraordinary journey the two countries have traveled, promote beneficial experiences and successful practices, and jointly plan the next 60 years of China-France relations. We are willing to work with France to uphold our original aspirations, maintain determination, deepen cooperation, and explore opportunities for the future, the Chinese Foreign Minister said. 

Wang also emphasized that pragmatic cooperation between China and France has brought significant benefits to the people of both countries. China adheres to high-quality development and promotes high-level opening-up. It will continue to open its markets to countries worldwide, including France, and hopes that France will also create a fair and just business environment for Chinese enterprises in France, providing positive and stable long-term expectations.

Macron asked Wang to convey sincere regards to President Xi and wished the Chinese people a smooth Year of the Dragon. 

Macron fondly recalled his successful visit to China last year and expressed his anticipation for jointly preparing for this year's high-level exchanges with China. He hoped that both sides will take the opportunity of the China-France strategic dialogue to implement the important consensus reached between him and President Xi and further develop a lasting and close relationship between France and China. France has consistently adhered to the one-China policy, which is clear and unequivocal. 

Faced with global challenges, France upholds strategic autonomy and is willing to strengthen strategic cooperation with China to jointly safeguard peace and stability, Macron said. 

Wang arrived in France after attending the 60th Munich Security Conference and concluding his visit to Spain.

The current international situation is fraught with turmoil, complex and unresolved hot issues, slow economic recovery, and various challenges. China and France, both being independent and sovereign powers, permanent members of the UN Security Council, and important forces in a multipolar world, should enhance strategic coordination, deepen strategic cooperation, and contribute to global peace and stability, Wang told Macron. 

China appreciates France's commitment to independence and autonomy and hopes that France will continue to play a constructive role in promoting healthy and stable development in China-EU relations, enhancing mutual trust, promoting convergence of interests, and jointly becoming a stabilizing force in today's world, he said. 

Also on Tuesday local time, Wang and French President's Diplomatic Adviser Emmanuel Bonne co-chaired the 25th China-France Strategic Dialogue in Paris. Both sides agreed to further strengthen cooperation in addressing climate change, protecting biodiversity, artificial intelligence and aerospace and so on. They also agreed on increasing the frequency of direct flights, and further facilitate people-to-people exchanges.

Bonne said that strategic communication between France and China has been highly effective, and the results of high-level exchanges have been fruitful. 

France attaches great importance to the comprehensive strategic partnership with China and will continue to adhere to the one-China policy, the French official said.

Also, faced with the current international turmoil and geopolitical conflicts, France is willing to work hand in hand with China to address challenges, avoid great power confrontation, prevent bloc confrontation, and improve global governance, he noted. 

France advocates for strategic autonomy in Europe and is ready to take on responsibilities. It supports Europe and China in maintaining their partnership position and strengthening effective cooperation, Bonne said. 

Since the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and France, mutual trust has continued to strengthen, and consensus has continued to expand, leading to increasingly mature and stable bilateral relations, Wang told at the strategic dialogue. 

Over the past 60 years, the world has undergone tremendous changes, but China and France's commitment to independence and autonomy, pursuit of multipolarity, and cherishment of cultural diversity have never wavered, Wang said. 

Standing at a new historical starting point, both sides should join hands, guided by the strategic consensus between the two heads of state, adhere to their original aspirations, innovate while staying true to the principles, and make the China-France comprehensive strategic partnership more solid and dynamic. This will contribute more to the development of China-EU relations and make unremitting efforts for world peace, he said. 

The Chinese senior diplomat also noted that global turmoil and even division are not in the interest of any party. 

China regards Europe as an important pole in the multipolarization process and supports Europe in enhancing its strategic autonomy, ensuring that its future and destiny are in its own hands, Wang said. 

China and France share similar positions on major issues, and China is willing to strengthen strategic communication with France, build more consensus, enhance unity and cooperation, demonstrate great power responsibility, send strong signals, and more effectively address global challenges and respond positively to international expectations, he added. 

Both parties agreed to further strengthen cooperation in addressing climate change, protecting biodiversity, sustainable development, agricultural products, clean energy, nuclear energy research and development, artificial intelligence, aerospace, forest carbon sinks, and other areas.

They also agreed to continue the positive momentum of cultural and educational exchanges between China and France throughout the year, organize hundreds of cultural exchange activities, increase the frequency of direct flights, and further facilitate people-to-people exchanges.

Global Times