China, France hold strategic dialogue in Paris

Chinese State Councilor Yang Jiechi on Wednesday met French President's Diplomatic Advisor Paul Jean-Ortiz in a new round of strategic dialogue between their two countries.

Chinese-French ties made big stride forward since they forged diplomatic ties five decades ago, Yang said.

During the past 12-month period, French President Francois Hollande, Prime Minister Jean-Marc Ayrault and National Assembly Speaker Claude Bartolone visited China respectively, marking a rapid growth of China-France ties, he said.

Yang said China is willing to work with France to continue to view and deal with bilateral relations from strategic and long-term perspectives and respect each other's core interests and accommodate each other's major concerns.

The Chinese State Councilor said China stands ready to work with France to enhance strategic mutual trust and to promote the bilateral ties to a new step at the new historical starting point.

Both sides should intensify high-level exchanges, and expand cooperation fields, create new highlights in their pragmatic cooperation and expand common interests in an innovative, win-win manner, Yang said.

He also called on both countries to further personnel and cultural exchanges, make the commemorations marking the 50th anniversary of their diplomatic relations a success, and enhance mutual understanding and friendship between the two peoples, especially the young.

Moreover, Yang said both sides should strengthen communication and cooperation in international affairs, and further coordination in issues of climate change, counter-terrorism and peacekeeping, thus contributing to world peace, prosperity and development.

For his part, Jean-Ortiz said the two countries enjoy good ties, and France attaches great importance to ties with China.

He said France is willing to take the 50th anniversary of France-China diplomatic relations as a good opportunity to further enhance high-level exchanges and all-around dialogues between the two countries.

France is ready to work with China to improve their cooperation mechanism and expand their cooperation, thus making the comprehensive strategic partnership between the two countries more substantive, Jean-Ortiz said.