China and France should orderly resume cooperation in various fields against the backdrop of the COVID-19 pandemic, and strengthen medical cooperation to defeat the pandemic and make contributions to building a community of common health for mankind, Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi said on Friday.

Wang said that China and France should cooperate more on drugs and vaccine research and development as well as prevention mechanism for future pandemics as he met with French President Emmanuel Macron in Paris.

The two sides should also continue to firmly supporting the leading role of the World Health Organization (WHO) in global efforts against the coronavirus outbreak and oppose the politicization of the pandemic, he added.

The Chinese foreign minister also stressed that Europe is a significant part of the multi-polar world and China and Europe are always partners not competitors. Thus, both China and Europe should help safeguard multilateralism.

France is the fourth stop on Wang's five-country Europe tour, which has already taken him to Italy, the Netherlands and Norway. 

Macron is one of the most influential leaders in Europe - second only to German Chancellor Angela Merkel with whom Wang is expected to meet when he concludes the his trip in Germany.

He also delivered a verbal message and a book from Chinese President Xi Jinping to the French president. 

Macron appreciated Xi's message and pointed out that the strategic communication between China and France is of great significance.

He praised how China has promised to make the coronavirus vaccine universally available once it's developed and approved, adding that France is willing to deepen anti-COVID-19 cooperation with China while also seeking more achievements in trade and agriculture as well as other fields.

During his visit, Wang also met with the president's foreign policy advisor Emmanuel Bonne. During their meeting, Wang stressed again the need to take advantage of the "fast lane" to resume medical and other cooperation with France.

Bonne said that France is dedicated to facilitating high-level official exchanges between China and Europe, and it will work with all parties concerned for post-pandemic communication and cooperation, so as to advance the strategic cooperation between China and Europe to a new level.

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(Cover: French President Emmanuel Macron (L) and Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi (R) /Chinese Foreign Ministry)