Chinese President Xi Jinping and French President Emmanuel Macron congratulated each other on Monday on the launch of the "China-France Year of the Environment." 

In their phone call, the two leaders reaffirmed their commitment to working together on environmental protection, climate change, biodiversity conservation and other ecological issues. 

The two countries decided to launch the event in January this year when President Macron visited China.

President Xi pointed out ecological development is key to a civilization. The decision to launch the "China-France Year of the Environment" is aimed at strengthening dialogue and cooperation between the two sides in the fields of ecological environmental protection, climate change and biodiversity conservation to jointly address global environmental challenges, he added.

Xi noted China is willing to work together with France and join hands with the international community to protect the earth and build a clean and beautiful world. 

Macron said tackling climate change, along with protecting the environment and biodiversity, is one of the most important challenges for human beings and also at the core of the comprehensive partnership between the two countries.

The French president said China's efforts have laid a solid foundation for cooperation between two sides.

France is willing to work together with China to lead the world in the transition to green, low-carbon and sustainable development.