China and France to enhance partnership

China and France said on Friday they stand ready to strengthen strategic coordination and advance the comprehensive strategic partnership between the two countries.

The pledge was made when State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi met with French Foreign Minister Catherine Colonna on the sidelines of the G20 Foreign Ministers' Meeting in Bali, Indonesia.

The talks were the first face-to-face interactions between the two foreign ministers since Colonna took office in May.

Wang said the stable development of China-France relations under the strategic guidance of the two heads of state not only brought welfare to peoples of the two countries, but also instilled stability to the turbulent and volatile world.

China valued mutual trust and friendship with France, and spoke highly of and firmly supported France's strategic autonomy, Wang said, adding that China would like to deepen pragmatic cooperation with France.

Noting the two countries maintained close communication and sound cooperation, Colonna said France also cherished friendship with China and stayed committed to continuously promoting their comprehensive strategic partnership.

She said France attached importance to China's role in maintaining global stability and strengthened strategic coordination between Paris and Beijing was of paramount importance of tackling global challenges.

France would continue to uphold the tradition of the strategic autonomy, she added.

The two sides agreed to promote people-to-people and cultural exchanges, facilitate personnel exchanges, and strengthen cooperation in addressing climate change and protecting biodiversity.

The two foreign ministers exchanged views on the relations between China and the European Union. Wang said China and the EU, being the two major forces with global influence, should adhere to the main tone of win-win cooperation and the position of comprehensive strategic partnership.

They should cooperate and unite, rather than decouple and fight with each other, he added

China appreciated and expected France to continue to play a constructive role in China-EU relations, Wang said.

In response, Colonna said France had always supported the advancement of EU-China relations and advocated accumulating consensus through dialogue.

France would continue to take a long-term perspective and deepen EU-China cooperation in various fields in a rational and open light, she added.

The two sides also exchanged views on international and regional issues of common concern, including the Ukraine issue and the Korean Peninsula issue.