Xi urges closer ties in phone call with French President-elect Macron

APD NEWS

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Chinese President Xi Jinping spoke with French President-elect Emmanuel Macron on the phone on Tuesday and the two agreed to meet at an early date.

Xi congratulated Macron on winning France's presidential election on Sunday and noted the deep historical ties between China and France, China’s foreign ministry said in a statement.

"It is the mutual expectation of the people as well as the international community to promote China-France relationship to a new level," the statement said, quoting Xi.

The Chinese president also expressed China's willingness to reinforce strategic mutual trust with France and "to better understand and accommodate the core interests of each other." He said China hopes the two countries will support each other on key issues, and cooperate in various fields.

As Beijing prepares to host a major Belt and Road forum, Xi welcomed France’s participation in the initiative. He also vowed China would continue to promote global governance reforms and safeguard achievements such as the Paris Agreement to tackle climate change.

The statement said Macron thanked Xi for his congratulatory call. The French president-elect said he attached great importance to bilateral relations, and added his administration would continue to maintain the one-China principle, and deepen cooperation in diplomacy, economy, trade and industry as well as on Belt and Road construction.

The two leaders agreed to stay in contact and meet at an early date to talk about China-France ties as well as issues of mutual concern, the foreign ministry statement said.

(CGTN)