Chinese President Xi Jinping stressed that different cultures can coexist harmoniously, vowing to enhance the cultural exchanges between China and France, when meeting with French President Emmanuel Macron on Tuesday.

Xi and his wife Peng Liyuan invited Macron and his wife Brigitte Macron to visit Shanghai's Yuyuan Garden. The visit, according to Xi, aims to help the Macrons experience the charm of a classic Chinese garden and the traditional Chinese culture.

Regarding Shanghai as an epitome of China's reform and opening-up as well as its development and progress, Xi said the city witnesses the evolution of China's relations with the whole world. He hoped Macron's visit to Shanghai may also help him better understand Shanghai and China as a whole.

As representatives of oriental and western civilizations, Xi wished China and France can enhance exchanges based on the principle of mutual respect.

Macron expressed his appreciation of the considerate arrangement. He praised Xi's keynote speech at the opening ceremony of the second China International Import Expo (CIIE), saying it left a deep impression on him.

France applauds and welcomes China's further opening-up, noted Macron, adding that France is ready to enhance international cooperation and build an open world economy with China.

Impressed by Shanghai's remarkable development, Macron said he saw China's opening-up and future.

The French president echoed Xi's comments on cultural exchanges and hoping his visit would inject new impetus to the bilateral relations.

(Cover: Chinese President Xi Jinping (R2) and his wife Peng Liyuan (R) meet with French President Emmanuel Macron (L2) and his wife Brigitte Macron at the Yuyuan Garden in Shanghai, east China, November 5, 2019. /Xinhua Photo)