BEIJING, April 7 — Chinese President Xi Jinping held talks with French President Emmanuel Macron in Beijing on Thursday, calling on both sides to enhance cooperation, promote relations between China and the European Union, and work jointly for a political settlement of the Ukraine crisis.
ENHANCING BILATERAL COOPERATION
Noting that the two sides need to make good use of their all-round, high-level communication channels, Xi called on the two sides to maintain close communication between the two presidents, and hold a new round of meetings this year for the three high-level dialogue mechanisms, namely the strategic dialogue, the economic and financial dialogue, and the dialogue on people-to-people exchanges.
China will work with France to deepen cooperation in such fields as agrifood, space, aviation, and civil nuclear energy, foster new cooperation areas including trade in services, green development, and innovation in science and technology, and support the joint development of a carbon neutrality center and joint cultivation of talents, he said.
Chinese President Xi Jinping holds a welcoming ceremony for French President Emmanuel Macron at the square outside the east gate of the Great Hall of the People prior to their talks in Beijing, capital of China, April 6, 2023. Xi held talks with Macron in Beijing on Thursday. (Xinhua/Xie Huanchi)
China welcomes France as the guest country of honor at the China International Fair for Trade in Services 2024 and the seventh China International Import Expo, Xi said, voicing the hope that France will provide Chinese businesses with a fair, just and non-discriminatory business environment.
Macron said despite their different development models, the two countries have respected each other, communicated with candor, and achieved mutual benefits in their wide-ranging cooperation.
He pointed out that he was taking a large delegation to China to seek closer cooperation and people-to-people exchanges, and France is ready to work with China on the third Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation that China will host.
Addressing the closing ceremony of a meeting between Chinese and French entrepreneurs, Xi said China-France economic and trade cooperation has not only boosted the economic development of the two countries and improved people’s well-being, but has also enhanced confidence and stabilized expectations for global economic recovery.
Noting that China’s economic and social vitality has now been fully unleashed, Xi said the two sides should seize the opportunity to strengthen cooperation, and called on them to remain open and inclusive and deepen mutually beneficial cooperation, uphold independence and safeguard their common interests, while adhering to solidarity and coordination to promote the common development of the world.
