Xi Jinping and Macron pledge to strengthen relations between China and the European Union.
According to Xi Jinping, France, in its role as President of the EU, has been working to strengthen the unity and strategic autonomy of the bloc.
China Radio International Chinese President Xi Jinping and French President Emmanuel Macron spoke by telephone on Wednesday afternoon (16).
The French head of state offered Chinese New Year greetings to the President of China and congratulated him on the successful opening ceremony of the Beijing Winter Olympic Games. He pointed out the difficulties in organizing the sporting event amidst the pandemic and reiterated French support for the success of the Beijing Winter Olympic and Paralympic Games.
Xi Jinping said that in 2021, they held two telephone conversations and attended two summits between the leaders of China, France, and Germany via videoconference, actively promoting the advancement of bilateral ties. Last year, the trade balance between China and France exceeded US$80 billion, and Chinese imports from France increased by 40%. The first seminar on artificial intelligence and the symposium on agricultural technology cooperation were also held, which are of great importance due to their pioneering nature.
According to the Chinese president, since assuming the rotating presidency of the European Union (EU) this year, France has done considerable work to strengthen the unity and autonomy of the bloc's strategies. "I have repeatedly stressed that China and Europe must get to know each other properly, persist in mutual respect, dialogue, and mutually beneficial cooperation," said Xi Jinping. He also reiterated China's willingness to work together with the French side for the success of the meeting between the leaders of China and Europe, and the realization of strategic dialogues in the areas of economy and trade, environmental protection, digital application, and people-to-people exchanges.