Chinese President Xi Jinping on Monday congratulated Emmanuel Macron on his re-election as French president.

In his message, Xi said over the past five years, the China-France comprehensive strategic partnership has maintained a high level of development under the guidance of the two heads of state. 

The two sides have continued to deepen practical cooperation in various fields, combated the COVID-19 pandemic shoulder to shoulder, jointly upheld multilateralism and improved global governance, injecting new impetus into developing bilateral relations and making new contributions to world peace, stability and prosperity, Xi said.

He said both China and France are major countries with a tradition of independence and self-reliance. He added that as the international situation undergoes profound and complex changes, it is of greater strategic importance to maintain the healthy and stable development of China-France relations.

Xi said he always views China-France relations from a strategic and long-term perspective, and stands ready to work with Macron to uphold the spirit of independence, mutual understanding, visionary thinking and win-win cooperation in developing bilateral ties and jointly bringing China-France relations to new heights to benefit people in the two countries and around the world.  

(With input from Xinhua) 

(Cover: French incumbent President Emmanuel Macron waves to supporters at a rally after the presidential runoff in Paris, France, April 24, 2022. /Xinhua)