China and France, both as major countries acting independently, should strengthen communication and coordination, jointly inject much-needed stability into the world, and better leverage the strategic value of China-France relations, Wang Yi, director of the Office of the Central Commission for Foreign Affairs, said on Wednesday.

Wang, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, made the remarks during a phone call with Emmanuel Bonne, diplomatic adviser to the French president.

At the beginning of the new year, the international landscape has undergone significant changes, marked by turbulence and instability, said Wang.

China and the European Union (EU) are partners rather than rivals, which has been proved by the fruitful outcomes of their cooperation over the past 50 years and more, he said, noting that China and the EU share similar positions on promoting a multipolar world and many other issues, and are capable of properly resolving specific trade disputes through dialogue and coordination.

Under the current circumstances, the two sides should, in particular, enhance communication, promote mutual trust and deepen cooperation, he said.

The recent visits to China by several European leaders have significantly advanced China-Europe relations, said Wang, voicing hopes France will continue to play a constructive role within the EU and help promote the sound and steady development of China-EU relations.

For his part, Bonne said that France attaches great importance to the France-China comprehensive strategic cooperation and stands ready to work with the Chinese side to implement the important consensus reached by the two heads of state.

Based on the spirit of mutual trust and cooperation, France is willing to strengthen strategic communication and coordination with China on major international hot-button issues within bilateral and multilateral frameworks, jointly address challenges, and make positive contributions to safeguarding global security and stability as well as promoting common development and prosperity, said Bonne.

Moving in the same direction and further stabilizing relations fully serve the interests of both the EU and China, and the French side is willing to make active efforts to promote the steady development of EU-China relations, he said.

Both sides also coordinated positions and exchanged views on hot-button issues such as the Ukraine crisis and the situations in Venezuela and Iran.