China's top legislator meets French president

Zhao Leji, chairman of the National People's Congress (NPC) Standing Committee, met with visiting French President Emmanuel Macron on Thursday in Beijing.

Zhao said China is willing to work with France to implement the important consensus reached by the two heads of state, carry forward the spirit of China-France diplomatic ties, maintain friendly exchanges, deepen mutually beneficial cooperation, expand people-to-people and cultural exchanges, and strengthen dialogue and coordination in multilateral fields to promote the steady and positive development of bilateral relations. 

He added that the NPC stands ready to enhance exchanges at all levels with both houses of the French parliament, to share experience in legislation and oversight, and provide legal guarantees for practical cooperation between the two countries.

Macron said France and China have maintained candid, direct, and substantive dialogue and reached a great deal of consensus. 

He noted that France admires China's achievements in areas such as the economy and science and technology, and is willing to deepen practical cooperation with China, strengthen exchanges between their legislative bodies, jointly address global challenges, and continue promoting the balanced development of France-China relations.