Xi: China to uphold multilateralism with France

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Europe

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Chinese President Xi Jinping met with former French president Francois Hollande in Beijing on Friday, stressing that China would like to enhance strategic coordination with France and stay committed to the process of multilateralism.

Xi told Hollande that the two countries should make joint efforts to address global challenges, promote world economic growth as well as trade and investment liberalization and facilitation, and maintain a peaceful, stable, open and inclusive international order.

China is also willing to strengthen cooperation with the European Union, he noted.

Chinese President Xi Jinping (R, Front) holds talks with former French president Francois Hollande (L, Front) at the Diaoyutai State Guesthouse in Beijing, May 25, 2018. /CCTV Screenshot

Hollande hailed China's positive role in international affairs, particularly its contributions to the signing of the Paris Agreement on Climate Change in December 2015.

The former French president said he is happy to see the strategic partnership between the two countries sustained and consolidated, adding that France-China cooperation will help maintain multilateralism in the world.

'Close and lasting comprehensive strategic partnership'

China and France hold similar stances on a number of global issues. Both countries oppose Washington's withdrawal from the Paris Agreement on Climate Change and the Iran nuclear deal. Meanwhile, Beijing and Paris are vocal critics of trade protectionism.

Emmanuel Macron, the current French president and Hollande's successor, visited China in January and told Xi that France would work with China to deal with global challenges.

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

In a telephone conversation in March, Xi and Macron pledged that China and France would jointly promote multilateralism to build an open global trade system.

During his tenure as the French president from 2012 to 2017, Hollande traveled to China several times, including two state visits in 2013 and 2015, and his attendance at the Group of 20 (G20) Summit in east China's Hangzhou in September 2016.

Xi paid a state visit to France in March 2014, during which the two countries agreed to elevate their relationship to a "close and lasting comprehensive strategic partnership."

Chinese President Xi Jinping (L) meets with his French counterpart Francois Hollande in Paris, France, March 26, 2014. /Xinhua Photo

In late 2015, the Chinese president attended the United Nations Climate Change Conference in Paris.

France was the first major Western country to establish diplomatic ties with China. The two countries established ambassador-level relations in January 1964.

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