French PM to visit China, ministry says

French Prime Minister Bernard Cazeneuve will pay an official visit to China from Tuesday to Thursday at the invitation of Premier Li Keqiang, according to the Foreign Ministry.

This will be his first visit to China after taking office, and the first by a European leader this year, Foreign Ministry spokesman Geng Shuang said on Wednesday.

Geng added that President Xi Jinping, Premier Li Keqiang and Zhang Dejiang, chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress, will meet with Cazeneuve.

"The leaders of the two countries will exchange in-depth views on the China-France relationship and issues of common concern," Geng told a daily media conference, adding that Cazeneuve will also visit Wuhan, the capital city of Hubei province.

Geng also said that France is China's important strategic partner. The bilateral relationship between the two countries has developed into a high level one in recent years, with deepening strategic mutual trust, increasing practical cooperation and people-to-people exchanges.

The two countries also keep in close communication, and cooperate, on international affairs, the spokesman said.

"We're willing to continue to jointly work with the French, to maintain the sound development of bilateral ties and contribute to world peace, stability and development," he said.

Geng believes that the visit will further deepen the China-France friendship, enhance results from practical cooperation in various areas, and boost the development of the China-Europe relationship.