On the afternoon of January 9, 2018, Premier Li Keqiang met at the Great Hall of the People with President Emmanuel Macron of France, who was in China for a state visit.
Li Keqiang expressed that China-France relations have long been at the forefront of China's relations with the western countries as both sides always adhere to mutual respect, equal treatment and win-win cooperation. President Xi Jinping held talks with Mr. President, making strategic planning for China-France relations in the new era. Against the current background of salient instabilities and uncertainties in the international situation, the necessity of deepening relations, strengthening cooperation and coping with challenges for China and France, two permanent members of the United Nations Security Council, becomes more prominent. China stands ready to continue working with the French side to constantly push forward China-France relations to new highs.
Li Keqiang pointed out that China continues deepening reform and expanding opening-up and furthering relaxing market access. It is believed that such gestures will provide more cooperation opportunities for all countries in the world, including France. China welcomes the French side to increase investment in China and export more high-quality products to China, and also hopes that France will further relax its restrictions on export of high-tech products to China. The two countries should strengthen cooperation in nuclear energy, aviation, agriculture and other fields, innovate cooperation modes, expand cooperation in the third-party markets, explore cooperation fields, and strengthen cooperation in artificial intelligence and other frontier areas.
Li Keqiang stressed that China firmly supports the European integration process, and hopes to see a united and stable European Union (EU) that enjoys development. The Chinese side is confident about the development prospects of the EU, and stands ready to promote negotiation on bilateral investment agreement with the EU.
Emmanuel Macron expressed that the significance of France-China relations has gone far beyond the bilateral scope. The French side is willing to further plan bilateral economic and trade cooperation with China on the basis of long-term cooperation, give play to respective advantages, strengthen mutually beneficial cooperation in scientific research, artificial intelligence, aviation, nuclear energy, agriculture and other fields, expand mutual market openness, and usher France-China and EU-China relations into a new stage of development, so as to join hands to make new contributions to global peace and development.
