On the afternoon of April 6, 2023, President Xi Jinping held talks with French President Emmanuel Macron, who was on a state visit to China, at the Great Hall of the People.

On the afternoon of April 6, President Xi Jinping held talks with French President Emmanuel Macron, who was on a state visit to China, at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing

Xi Jinping welcomes Macron to visit China again. Xi Jinping pointed out that the world today is undergoing profound historical changes. As permanent members of the UN Security Council and major countries with a tradition of independence, China and France, as staunch promoters of multi-polarization of the world and the democratization of international relations, have the ability and responsibility to transcend differences. adhere to the general direction of China-France comprehensive strategic partnership that is stable, reciprocal, pioneering, and upward, practice true multilateralism, and maintain world peace, stability, and prosperity.

Xi Jinping spoke positively of the positive and steady development momentum of China-France relations, emphasizing that stability is a prominent feature and precious asset of China-France relations, which deserves careful care by both sides. The two sides should make good use of all-round and high-level communication channels between the two countries, maintain close communication between the heads of state of the two countries, and hold a new meeting of the three high-level dialogue mechanisms between China and France on strategy, economics, finance, and people-to-people and cultural exchanges within 2023. The two sides should respect each other's sovereignty and territorial integrity, respect each other's core interests, and properly handle differences. To adhere to mutual benefit and common development. China is vigorously promoting high-quality development and high-level opening up, which will provide France with broader market opportunities. China is willing to work with France to deepen cooperation in fields such as agriculture, food, aerospace, and civil nuclear energy, to cultivate new growth points for cooperation in service trade, green development, and technological innovation, and to support the two sides in jointly building a carbon-neutral center and strengthening joint training of talents. France is welcome to serve as the guest country of the 2024 China International Fair for Trade in Services and the 7th China International Import Expo. It is hoped that the French side will provide Chinese companies with a fair, just and non-discriminatory business environment. The Chinese side is willing to, together with the French side, take the 60th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and France next year, the China-France Culture and Tourism Year, and the Paris Olympic Games as opportunities to strengthen cooperation in related fields.

Xi Jinping emphasized that China is willing to continue to maintain an open attitude and maintain close communication and coordination with France in multilateral mechanisms such as the United Nations, the Group of Twenty, and the World Trade Organization, to jointly practice genuine multilateralism, and to jointly address climate change, energy issues, etc. global challenge. China supports France in hosting the 2025 United Nations Ocean Conference and welcomes France to attend the third Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation.

Xi Jinping emphasized that as two major global powers, two major markets, and two major civilizations, China-EU relations are related to the well-being of both sides, as well as global stability and prosperity. China's policy toward Europe will maintain long-term stability, always regards Europe as an independent pole in the multi-polar world, and insists that China-EU relations are not targeted at, dependent on, or controlled by a third party. The Chinese side is willing to work with the European side to take the 20th anniversary of the establishment of the comprehensive strategic partnership between China and the EU in 2023 as an opportunity to comprehensively restart exchanges and dialogues, stabilize the main tone of China-EU friendly cooperation, and explore the establishment of a stable and trustworthy supply chain partnership to achieve mutual benefit and win-win results. It is hoped that the French side will play an active leading role.

Emmanuel Macron said that I still have fresh memories of my visit to China more than three years ago, and I am very happy to visit China again to discuss with President Xi Jinping how to further enhance the France-China comprehensive strategic partnership. I fully agree with President Xi Jinping's positive comments on France-China relations and his important suggestions on the development of bilateral relations. Next year, France and China will jointly celebrate the 60th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations. Over the past 60 years, France-China relations have maintained stable and healthy development. Although the development models of France and China are different, the two sides respect each other and communicate frankly. Cooperation in various fields has achieved mutual benefit and reciprocity. At the same time, important progress has been made in cooperating to cope with the global challenges facing the world today. The French side respects and adheres to the one-China policy. I lead a large delegation to visit China this time because I hope to strengthen cooperation with China and promote people-to-people and cultural exchanges. The French side congratulated the Chinese side on successfully hosting the Kunming-Montreal Convention on Biological Diversity's 15th Conference of the Parties, and hoped to continue to communicate and cooperate closely with China on issues such as climate change and food security. China will host the third "Belt and Road" International Cooperation Summit Forum, and France is willing to cooperate with China in this regard. The French side appreciates that China has always abided by the purposes of the UN Charter and played a positive role in resolving international and regional hotspot issues, and looks forward to close communication and coordination with China to strive for lasting peace and stability in the world.

Macron said that the French side adheres to independent diplomacy, advocates European strategic autonomy, and opposes confrontation and division, as well as confrontation between camps. France will not choose sides, but advocates unity and cooperation, and the relationship between major powers remains stable. The French side is willing to maintain candid and in-depth communication with the Chinese side, enhance mutual trust, seek common ground while reserving differences, and open cooperation. The French side is willing to actively promote the development of EU-China relations.

The two heads of state also exchanged views on the crisis in Ukraine. Xi Jinping emphasized that China's position on the Ukraine issue is consistent and clear, and the core is to promote peace talks and political settlement. There is no panacea for resolving the crisis. All parties need to start from themselves and create conditions for ending the war and peace talks by accumulating mutual trust. China supports the European side in playing a role in the political settlement of the crisis, and is willing to work with the French side to call on the international community to maintain rational restraint and avoid taking actions that will further aggravate the crisis or even get out of control; strictly abide by international humanitarian law, avoid attacks on civilians and civilian facilities, protect women, Children and other victims of conflict; earnestly fulfill the promise that nuclear weapons and nuclear wars shall not be used, oppose the use of biological and chemical weapons under any circumstances, and oppose armed attacks on nuclear power plants and other civilian nuclear facilities; restart peace talks as soon as possible, in accordance with the purposes and principles of the Charter of the United Nations, taking into account all aspects to seek a political solution to build a balanced, effective and sustainable European security framework; cooperate to deal with the spillover effects of the Ukrainian crisis in the fields of food, energy, finance, and transportation, and reduce the impact of the Ukrainian crisis on the world, especially developing countries. negative impact on the country. China is willing to maintain communication with France on this and play a constructive role in the political settlement of the crisis.

Macron introduced the views of the French side and appreciated China's important role in the political settlement of the Ukrainian crisis. He said that the French side advocates restarting political negotiations, resolving the crisis through diplomatic means, and realizing lasting peace in Europe. He hopes to strengthen communication with China and make joint efforts for peace. effort.

After the talks, the two heads of state jointly witnessed the signing of a number of bilateral cooperation documents in the fields of agriculture, food, science and technology, aviation, civil nuclear energy, sustainable development, and culture.

The two heads of state also jointly met with Chinese and foreign journalists

Before the talks, Xi Jinping held a welcome ceremony for Macron at the square outside the East Gate of the Great Hall of the People

When Macron arrived, the guard of honor lined up to pay tribute. The two heads of state stepped onto the reviewing stand, the military band played the national anthems of China and France, and a 21-gun salute was fired at Tiananmen Square. Accompanied by Xi Jinping, Macron reviewed the guard of honor of the Chinese People's Liberation Army and watched the parade. Editor / Zhao E