PARIS, May 9, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- A news report from
chinadaily.com.cn:
As French President Emmanuel
Macron rolled out the red carpet for President Xi Jinping's
state visit, which concluded on Tuesday, China and France, with ample outcomes from the visit,
have sent the message that they will consolidate the strategic
stability of bilateral ties and jointly contribute to global
security and prosperity.
The two countries signed 18 bilateral cooperation documents in
areas such as green development, aviation, agrifood, commerce and
people-to-people exchanges after the two presidents' official talks
at the Elysee Palace in Paris on
Monday.
They also issued four joint statements on the situation in the
Middle East, artificial
intelligence and global governance, partnership in the fields of
biodiversity and oceans, and agricultural exchanges and
cooperation.
This year marks the 60th anniversary of diplomatic ties between
China and France, with the latter being the first major
Western country to establish diplomatic relations at the
ambassadorial level with China.
Observers said that in an era in which mistrust often defines
interactions between the West and China, the vibrant comprehensive strategic
partnership between China and
France stands as a beacon of hope,
demonstrating that trust and collaboration are not only possible
but essential for progress and prosperity.
A successful sojourn:
https://x.com/XisMoments/status/1788129714055586191
https://x.com/XisMoments/status/1788129189344018799
During their talks, the two presidents highlighted the
countries' friendly relationship as well as the potential and
prospects of cooperation. They pledged to step up the countries'
cooperation in traditional areas such as aerospace, aviation and
nuclear energy, expand collaboration in emerging areas such as
green energy, smart manufacturing, biomedicine and AI, and jointly
uphold multilateralism, the United Nations Charter and
international law.
Xi said that China is ready to
maintain strategic communication with France, respect each other's core interests,
unleash the great potential of mutually beneficial cooperation, and
facilitate growth and balance in bilateral trade.
Expanding opening-up
He reaffirmed the nation's commitment to expanding opening-up,
saying that China has fully opened
up its manufacturing sector and will move faster to expand market
access in the service sector, such as in telecommunications and
medical services.
While saying that China
welcomes investment by more French companies, Xi expressed the hope
that the French side will provide a good business environment and
stable development expectations for investment and cooperation by
Chinese companies in France.
China welcomes visits by more
people from France, and will
extend the short-stay visa-exemption policy for citizens from 12
countries, including France, to
the end of 2025, bring the total number of French students in
China to more than 10,000, and
double the number of young Europeans on exchange programs to
China in the next three years, Xi
said.
He also pledged to increase dialogue and communication with
France in areas including AI
governance and reform of the international financial system.
Macron said that as the world faces many pressing challenges,
the profound and rich France-China
relationship is at a critical juncture of building on the past and
looking to the future.
The two sides, through mutual respect, a long-term perspective
and strengthened cooperation, will play an important and positive
role in addressing global challenges and opposing any logic of bloc
confrontation, he said.
Macron assured Xi that France
will continue to open its market to China and will not adopt discriminatory
policies against Chinese companies.
David Gosset, founder of the
China-Europe-America Global
Initiative, said that as France
and China translate their
affinities into concerted action, they forge pathways for enhanced
synergies between the European Union and the world's second-largest
economy.
As the world continues to evolve and confront new challenges,
Gosset said that the partnership between France and China will remain essential in shaping a more
peaceful, prosperous and sustainable future for all.
During their talks, Xi and Macron also exchanged views on
international and regional issues of mutual interest, including the
Ukraine crisis and the
Palestine-Israel conflict.
While meeting the media with Macron following their talks, Xi
called on all parties to resume engagement and dialogue to build
mutual trust in order to address the Ukraine crisis. China opposes attempts to use the Ukraine crisis to scapegoat or smear a third
country or to stoke a new Cold War, he said.
https://x.com/XisMoments/status/1787812645602766938
On the Palestine-Israel
conflict, Xi urged the international community to work together for
an immediate, comprehensive and sustainable cease-fire in
Gaza. "We support Palestine's full
membership in the UN, and support restoring to Palestine its
legitimate national rights and restarting the two-state solution,
so as to achieve lasting peace in the Middle East."
Xi and Macron also met on Tuesday at Col du Tourmalet in
southwestern France, before Xi
left for a state visit to Serbia.
https://www.chinadaily.com.cn/a/202405/08/WS663ab1cea31082fc043c5c59.html
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SOURCE chinadaily.com.cn