Chinese President Xi Jinping (right) meets French President Emmanuel Macron in Bali, Indonesia, Nov 15, 2022. (PHOTO / XINHUA)

BEIJING - Chinese President Xi Jinping held talks with French President Emmanuel Macron in Beijing on Thursday.

Xi welcomed President Macron's state visit to China after a lapse of over three years, saying that over the past three years and more, despite a changing and unstable international landscape, China and France have worked together to maintain a positive and sound growth momentum in their bilateral ties.

Noting that President Macron's visit to China is the first by a European head of state after the full resumption of China's exchanges with the world and the successful conclusion of China's "two sessions", Xi said the visit will inject new momentum and bring new vitality to China-Europe relations

He said the two sides have maintained high-frequency and high-quality strategic communication in a hybrid format, supported each other in the fight against COVID-19, and seen robust growth in bilateral trade and important outcomes from cooperation in aerospace, aviation, agriculture, food and other areas.

The two countries have also carried out close communication and coordination on such issues as climate change, biodiversity, and Africa's development, Xi added.

Noting that the world today is undergoing profound historic transformation, Xi said China and France are permanent members of the UN Security Council and major countries with a tradition of independence.

"China and France are firm advocates for a multi-polar world and for greater democracy in international relations. They have the ability and responsibility to rise above differences and obstacles, keep to the overall direction of a comprehensive strategic partnership that is stable, mutually beneficial, enterprising and dynamic, and practice true multilateralism for global peace, stability and prosperity," he said.

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Noting that President Macron's visit to China is the first by a European head of state after the full resumption of China's exchanges with the world and the successful conclusion of China's "two sessions", Xi said the visit will inject new momentum and bring new vitality to China-Europe relations.

Xi and Macron then jointly met the press after their talks.

Xi noted that during the friendly and in-depth talks, the two presidents agreed to work together in the following areas: First, keeping bilateral relations stable. The two sides will maintain close communication at the head-of-state level, hold a new round of meetings under the three high-level mechanisms on strategic, economic and financial, and people-to-people dialogues within this year, and resume offline exchanges between legislatures and militaries as soon as possible. The two sides reiterated mutual respect for each other's sovereignty, territorial integrity and core interests.

Second, pursuing mutual benefit and common development. The two presidents jointly witnessed the signing of a series of important cooperation agreements.

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The two sides will deepen cooperation in traditional areas such as aviation, aerospace and civilian nuclear energy, and cultivate new growth drivers in cooperation such as green development and scientific and technological innovation, including building a China-France carbon neutrality center and strengthening joint training of talents, Xi said.

Xi conveyed to Macron China's readiness to advance high-standard opening-up and share new opportunities in China's new development with countries around the world, and to work with France to build a "French farm to Chinese dining table" whole-chain rapid coordination mechanism

Xi conveyed to Macron China's readiness to advance high-standard opening-up and share new opportunities in China's new development with countries around the world, and to work with France to build a "French farm to Chinese dining table" whole-chain rapid coordination mechanism.

At China's invitation, France will be a guest of honor country at the 2024 China International Fair for Trade in Services (CIFTIS) and the seventh China International Import Expo (CIIE).

The two countries are committed to providing a fair, just and non-discriminatory business environment for each other's companies, Xi said.

Third, resuming people-to-people and cultural exchanges across the board. Next year will be the 60th anniversary of China-France diplomatic relations and the China-France Year of Culture and Tourism. The two sides will leverage the full reopening of people-to-people exchanges to promote exchanges in culture, education, language, publishing, film and television and tourism as well as among localities and the youth, and deepen sports cooperation through the Paris 2024 Olympic Games.

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Fourth, supporting each other and promoting improvement of global governance. China and France will continue to support a multi-polar world and greater democracy in international relations, oppose Cold War mentality and bloc confrontation, and jointly tackle all types of global challenges. China supports France in hosting a successful UN Ocean Conference in 2025, and welcomes France's participation at the third Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation.

Xi noted that this year marks the 20th anniversary of the comprehensive strategic partnership between China and the European Union (EU). He and Macron had an in-depth exchange of views on China-EU relations, and agreed to focus on the positive agenda of China-EU relations, and resume bilateral exchanges, dialogue and cooperation in all areas

Xi noted that this year marks the 20th anniversary of the comprehensive strategic partnership between China and the European Union (EU). He and Macron had an in-depth exchange of views on China-EU relations, and agreed to focus on the positive agenda of China-EU relations, and resume bilateral exchanges, dialogue and cooperation in all areas.

The two leaders would later be joined by President Ursula von der Leyen of the European Commission for a trilateral meeting.

Xi said China always views Europe as an independent pole in a multi-polar world.

China supports Europe in achieving strategic autonomy, upholds that the China-Europe relationship is not targeted at, subjugated to, or controlled by any third party, and believes that Europe will take an independent approach to developing its relations with China, he said.

On the same day, President Macron also met China's top legislator Zhao Leji.

Zhao, chairman of the National People's Congress (NPC) Standing Committee, said China is ready to work with France to implement the strategic consensus reached by the two heads of state, actively promote practical cooperation in various fields, and strengthen communication and coordination on major international and regional hotspot issues.

The legislatures of China and France should continue to make good use of the regular exchange mechanism to share legislative experiences, promote cultural exchanges and consolidate public support for China-France relations, Zhao added.

Hailing the sound development of relations between the two countries, Macron said France is committed to developing relations with China independently and is willing to further strengthen cooperation in economy, trade and culture, and exchanges between legislatures.