Congratulatory note sent to French victor

Xi's telegram to Macron encourages renewed work on ties

China is ready to work with France to bring their comprehensive strategic partnership to "a higher level", President Xi Jinping said in a congratulatory message to French president-elect Emmanuel Macron on Monday.

Macron won Sunday's runoff vote of the presidential election and is set to lead the major European country at a time when China has been France's largest trade partner in Asia. Bilateral trade amounted to $47.1 billion last year.