Chinese, French FMs vow to strengthen exchanges on 60 years of diplomatic ties

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi and his French counterpart Stephane Sejourne on Saturday vowed to strengthen high-level and people-to-people exchanges.

The two countries mark the 60th anniversary of their diplomatic relationship this year.

Wang, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, met Sejourne on the sidelines of the Munich Security Conference held from February 16 to 18 in the German city.

China is willing to maintain high-level exchanges with France and work together to prepare for a new round of meetings this year for the three high-level dialogue mechanisms, namely the strategic dialogue, the economic and financial dialogue, and the dialogue on people-to-people exchanges, Wang said.

He urged the two sides to take the opportunity brought by the 60th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties and the China-France Year of Culture and Tourism in 2024 to enhance mutual understanding and friendship between the two peoples and increase the number of direct flights to facilitate personnel exchange.

Wang also expressed the willingness to import more French high-quality agricultural products and the hope that the French side can provide a fair, transparent and favorable business environment for Chinese enterprises in France.

Noting that the 60th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and France is of great significance, Sejourne said the French side is willing to take this opportunity to strengthen high-level exchanges and expand cooperation in various fields, including economy and trade, cultural and people-to-people exchanges and tourism.