PARIS, France, March 27 (NNN-XINHUA) – Chinese President, Xi Jinping, met with French Senate President, Gerard Larcher, here, urging the two sides to maintain sound strategic partnership and foster more fruitful practical cooperation, so as to lay a stronger foundation for bilateral ties.
Xi said, the past, present and future have linked Chinese and French civilisations closer, noting, the age-old cultures of the two peoples are treasures of mankind.
Many founders of the Communist Party of China and the People’s Republic of China (PRC) once studied in France, when they were young, and were closely tied to France, he said.
As this year marks the 55th anniversary of China-France diplomatic ties, the Chinese people admire General Charles de Gaulle, who, with a great vision and a remarkable spirit of independence, made the historic decision to establish diplomatic relations with China, making France the first Western country to do so.
History has proven that the General had made a right decision, and the Chinese people will always remember him, he said.
Xi said, China and France should maintain a sound strategic partnership, when the world is undergoing profound changes, unseen in a century, urging the two countries to foster more fruitful practical cooperation, so as to lay a solid foundation to deepen bilateral ties.
Xi also said, both Beijing and Paris pledge to maintain the basic principles of international norms, underpinned by the UN Charter, and uphold free trade and multilateral trading system.
He called on the two countries to continue to closely coordinate and cooperate on such key international issues as climate change.
China supports its National People’s Congress to strengthen cooperation and exchanges with the French Senate, Xi added.
Larcher said France is committed to strengthening cooperation with China.
This year marks the 70th anniversary of the founding of the PRC and the 55th anniversary of China-France diplomatic ties, Larcher said, adding that, it was France’s high level of trust in China that led to General de Gaulle’s decision to forge diplomatic ties with Beijing.
China’s newly approved foreign investment law will bring more opportunities for both countries to cooperate in economy, trade and investment, Larcher said.– NNN-XINHUA
