Xi, Macron stress commitment to multilateralism

World
Europe

Chinese President Xi Jinping and his French counterpart Emmanuel Macron Thursday pledged over phone that China and France would jointly implement their consensus on deepening ties and promote multilateralism to build an open global trade system.

Macron congratulated Xi on being elected Chinese president on Saturday at the annual session of the National People's Congress, China's national legislature.

The French president said he expects China to continue to deepen reform, expand openness and achieve further development, and thus make greater contributions to the world.

January 9, 2018: Chinese President Xi Jinping (L) holds a welcome ceremony for visiting French President Emmanuel Macron in Beijing. /Xinhua Photo

China's development will create more opportunities to the cooperation between the two countries as well as between Europe and China, Macron told his Chinese counterpart.

Xi noted that China and France are both permanent members of the United Nations Security Council and major countries with global influence. He called on the two countries to enhance strategic communication and coordination.

The two leaders met in January during Macron's state visit to China.

(With input from Xinhua)