China urges France to help develop China-EU ties as Wang Yi meets Macron

China hopes that France will continue to play a constructive role in the healthy and stable development of China-EU relations, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi told French President Emmanuel Macron on Tuesday.

Wang, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, held talks with Macron at the Elysee Palace in Paris.

Noting this year marks the 60th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and France, Wang called for the two countries to take this opportunity to jointly chart the course for the next 60 years of bilateral ties.

Wang said that China will continue to open its market to all countries, including France, and expressed the hope that the French side will also create a fair and just business environment for Chinese enterprises in France.

The current international situation is characterized by frequent chaos, complicated hotspot issues, slow recovery of the world economy and various challenges, Wang said, stressing that China and France, as independent and autonomous major countries and permanent members of the United Nations Security Council, should strengthen strategic coordination and cooperation, and make contributions to enhance global peace and stability.

Macron expressed the willingness to work with China to prepare for this year's high-level exchanges, and said he hoped the two sides can take the France-China Strategic Dialogue as an opportunity to further advance a lasting and closer bilateral relationship.

Macron stressed France's firm stance on adhering to the one-China policy and said that France is willing to strengthen strategic coordination with China to jointly safeguard peace and stability amid global challenges.