China, France should enhance strategic communication, uphold multilateralism: FM

Abstract : Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi on Tuesday said China and France should strengthen strategic communication and coordination in the face of mounting instability and uncertainty globally, so as to join hands to safeguard multilateralism.

BEIJING, July 28 (Xinhua) — Chinese State Councilor and Foreign
Minister Wang Yi on Tuesday said China and France should strengthen
strategic communication and coordination in the face of mounting
instability and uncertainty globally, so as to join hands to safeguard
multilateralism and oppose unilateral bullying for the sake of world
peace and stability.

Wang made the remarks in a phone conversation with French Foreign
Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian, while noting that the two sides have
achieved fruitful results in the 20th China-France Strategic Dialogue
and the seventh China-France High-Level Economic and Financial Dialogue,
which have paved the way for exchanges and interaction between the two
heads of state this year.

The two sides should also make full use of the “fast-track lane” to
promote the resumption of work and production, and create good
conditions for resuming people-to-people exchanges and flights between
the two countries, he noted.

Wang stressed that as comprehensive strategic partners, China and
France should open to, rather than restricting, each other, and should
do more things to promote mutual benefits and win-win outcomes, instead
of causing lose-lose results. It is hoped that France can work together
with China to uphold a level-playing field and a fair business
environment, and does not adopt discriminatory policies against any
businesses.

Wang noted that China and Europe are two important forces in a world
heading toward multipolarity and should play the role as global
stabilizers.

China is willing to strengthen coordination with France on the
China-EU relationship, and accelerate the negotiation of the China-EU
investment agreement and cooperation in tackling climate change and
other fields, Wang said.

He expressed the expectation that France would play a positive part
and work together with China to seek common ground while reserving
differences and focusing on cooperation to ensure sound and stable
development of China-EU relations.

Noting this year marks the 75th anniversary of the founding of the
United Nations (UN), Wang said China and France should uphold
multilateralism, safeguard the purposes and principles of the UN
Charter, oppose any attempt to weaken the role of the UN and support its
core status in the international system.

For his part, Le Drian said that since the outbreak of the COVID-19
epidemic, France and China have maintained close communication and
cooperation.

The two sides have made proper arrangements for flights between each
other, effectively ensuring their personnel exchanges, he said.

Describing the recent France-China strategic dialogue and their
high-level economic and financial dialogue as fruitful, he added that
France is ready to work with China to prepare for the next stage of
high-level exchanges between both sides.

The French side will treat all countries and enterprises equally and
will not adopt discriminatory policies, he promised, adding that both
Europe and China are committed to multilateralism.

France attaches great importance to EU-China relations and supports
dialogues between the EU and China, so as to advance negotiations on the
investment agreement and cooperation on climate change. Enditem

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Source: China, France should enhance strategic communication, uphold multilateralism: FM