BEIJING – China and France should seize opportunities and expand the scope of cooperation, President Xi Jinping said while holding talks with visiting French President Emmanuel Macron in Beijing on Thursday.

As both visionary and responsible independent major countries, China and France serve as constructive forces in advancing multipolarity and promoting solidarity and cooperation among humanity, said the Chinese leader.

At present, as changes unseen in a century are accelerating, humanity once again stands at a crossroads, facing crucial choices about its future path, he said, adding that the two countries should demonstrate a sense of responsibility, uphold multilateralism, and stand firmly on the right side of history.

He said China is willing to work with France to always proceed from the fundamental interests of the two peoples and the long-term interests of the international community, while upholding equal dialogue and open cooperation, to ensure that the China-France comprehensive strategic partnership continues to advance steadily and thrives over the next 60 years, fully demonstrates its strategic value, and makes new contributions to promoting an equitable and orderly multipolar world as well as a universally beneficial and inclusive economic globalization.

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Xi emphasized that regardless of changes of the external environment, China and France should always demonstrate the strategic vision and independence as major countries, understand and support each other on issues concerning each other's core interests and major concerns, and safeguard the political foundation of bilateral relations.

The fourth plenary session of the 20th Central Committee of the Communist Party of China deliberated over and adopted the recommendations for formulating the 15th Five-Year Plan, outlining a blueprint for China's development over the next five years and providing the world with a "list of opportunities”, he said.

China and France should seize opportunities and expand the scope of cooperation, consolidating cooperation in traditional fields such as aviation, aerospace and nuclear energy, while tapping into the potential for cooperation in areas including the green economy, digital economy, biopharmaceuticals, artificial intelligence and new energy, said the Chinese president.

China is willing to import more high-quality French products, welcomes more French enterprises to develop in China, and also hopes that France will provide a fair environment and stable conditions for Chinese enterprises, he said.

Noting that the Chinese and French people share a natural sense of affinity, he urged both sides to deepen exchanges and cooperation in areas such as culture, education, science and technology, and at the sub-national level.

He also said China and the European Union should uphold their positioning as partners and advance cooperation with an open attitude.

For his part, Macron said France attaches great importance to relations with China and firmly adheres to the one-China principle.

France is willing to continuously deepen the comprehensive strategic partnership between the two sides, he added.

After their talks, the two presidents jointly witnessed the signing of multiple cooperation documents on nuclear energy, agriculture, food, education and ecological environment.

They attended and addressed the closing ceremony of the seventh meeting of China-France Business Council in the Chinese capital.

Addressing the event, Xi said the two sides should respond to uncertainties in today's world with the stability of China-France relations.

Xi called on both sides to continuously expand new areas of bilateral economic and trade cooperation, keep fostering new progress in mutually beneficial China-EU cooperation, and jointly make fresh contributions to the reform and improvement of global governance.

They later jointly met the press.

Xi told the media that both sides agreed to deepen exchanges and cooperation in culture, education, science and technology, and subnational areas, and launch a new round of cooperation in the protection of giant pandas.