Chinese President Xi Jinping urged on Wednesday for China and France to shoulder more responsibilities and exercise their roles as major countries, as the world is undergoing changes rarely seen in a century.
Xi made his remarks when meeting with the press together with visiting French President Emmanuel Macron at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing.
Noting that the two countries are two permanent members of the UN Security Council and representatives of Eastern and Western civilizations, Xi stressed the two sides should safeguard multilateralism.
"The two countries should maintain their traditions of independent policies and jointly safeguard the international system with the United Nations at the core, the international order based on international law, as well as the multilateral trading regime with WTO rules as the cornerstone," he said.
The French president is on a three-day state visit to China, during which he attended the opening ceremony of the second China International Import Expo (CIIE).
On Tuesday, Xi and Macron met in Shanghai and the two sides vowed to enhance cultural exchanges. Xi said he hopes Macron's visit will help him better understand Shanghai and China as a whole.
Chinese President Xi Jinping holds a welcome ceremony for French President Emmanuel Macron before their talks in Beijing, capital of China, November 6, 2019. /Xinhua Photo
China-France ties: Forefront of major country-relations
Before the joint press conference, Xi held a welcome ceremony earlier in the day and held talks with his French counterpart.
"We have made mutual visits to our respective countries on the 55th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations and lifted China-France ties to a higher level," Xi said during the meeting.
The Chinese president pledged to work with the French president to further advance the China-France comprehensive strategic partnership, looking out on the world, the future and the people, and keep the partnership at the forefront of major-country relations.
Further cooperation from six aspects
As for the future cooperation between the two countries, Xi proposed six aspects.
He stressed that the two sides should strengthen political mutual trust, such as holding high-level economic and financial dialogues and promoting Party exchanges and cooperation.
Major projects will also help to consolidate bilateral relations, Xi noted, calling on the two sides to implement the new consensus reached during Macron's visit in the field of nuclear energy, aerospace, and environmental protection, and more.
He also called for the expansion of a two-way opening of the market and to reach the conclusion of an ambitious and balanced China-EU investment agreement as soon as possible.
The Chinese president also encouraged the integration of the China-proposed Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) and the Euro-Asian connectivity strategy and voiced China's support to deepen bilateral innovation cooperation as well as promoting cultural exchanges.
Chinese President Xi Jinping and his wife Peng Liyuan pose for photos with French President Emmanuel Macron and his wife Brigitte Macron ahead of talks between the two leaders in Beijing, November 6, 2019. /Xinhua Photo
China, France reaffirm strong support for Paris Agreement
President Xi and Macron reaffirmed the two countries' strong support for the Paris climate pact, according to two joint statements released after the meeting of the two leaders.
"The two sides will facilitate the implementation of the Paris Agreement on climate change," the statement read.
It added: "The two sides pay high attention to dealing with climate change and the preservation of ecological diversity. We've both agreed to cooperate in the 15th Conference of the Parties on the 'Convention on Biological Diversity,' to be held in Kunming next year."
In another document titled the "Beijing Call for Biodiversity Conservation and Climate Change," the two sides said they consider an irreversible process and a compass for strong action on the climate.
When meeting with reporters, Macron said he "deplores the choices made by others" on quitting the Paris Climate Agreement.
"But I want to look at them as marginal choices. The isolated choice of one or another is not enough to change the course of the world. It only leads to marginalization."
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$15.1-billion deals
Xi and Macron also witnessed the signing of deals worth 15.1 billion U.S. dollars. The deals cover aviation, energy and agriculture, as well as French exports of poultry, beef and pork to China.
Referring to China's four-billion-euro worth of sovereign bonds in Paris, China's first such sale since 2004, President Xi said that it is an important move to support Paris in growing as an international financial center during the talks.