China and France vow to boost multilateralism, counter protectionism

World
Europe

Chinese President Xi Jinping and French Prime Minister Bernard Cazeneuve agreed to boost multilateralism in the face of growing global protectionist sentiment on Wednesday.

The Chinese president greeted Cazeneuve and his delegation with a handshake before sitting down for a meeting at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing.

Chinese President Xi Jinping (R) shakes hands with French Prime Minister Bernard Cazeneuve at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing on February 22, 2017. /AFP Photo

President Xi noted that China and France are comprehensive strategic partners, and that both are permanent members of the UN Security Council. He said that a healthy, stable relationship is in line with the mutual fundamental interests of the two countries, as well as the needs of world peace development.

Xi added that the two countries facilitated the success of both the G20 Hangzhou summit and the Paris Climate Change Conference.

He said that the Made in China 2025 plan will cooperate with France’s Industry of the Future project to forge strategic development.

Chinese President Xi Jinping (center R) and French Prime Minister Bernard Cazeneuve (center L) attend a meeting at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing on February 22, 2017. /AFP Photo

Xi stated that China and France should counter all kinds of protectionism, and push for a more open, inclusive, beneficial for all, balanced and win-win economic globalization, while guarding results of global governance such as the Paris Agreement.

Cazeneuve thanked China for its important role in the success of the climate conference in Paris, adding that France is willing to strengthen cooperation with China under the framework of the Belt and Road Initiative.

The prime minister said France looks forward to strengthening its cooperation in economics, trade, scientific research, nuclear, aerospace, and automobile manufacturing with China.

He added that as both countries are permanent members of the UN Security Council, they should strengthen cooperation in international affairs, and together strive to boost multilateralism, and maintain the world’s peace and stability.

Photo shows French energy group New Areva's nuclear waste reprocessing plant in Beaumont-Hague, France on September 14, 2016. /AFP Photo

Meanwhile, French nuclear fuel group New Areva said it signed an agreement concerning a nuclear fuel processing facility with China National Nuclear Corporation (CNNC) on Tuesday, and added that talks are continuing about CNNC taking a stake in the firm.

New Areva said in a statement on Tuesday that the deal supports ongoing talks between New Areva and CNNC about a nuclear fuel reprocessing and recycling plant, which has been under negotiation for several years.

1km