Political Lens

Top legislator urges expanded Sino-French cooperation

Top legislator Zhao Leji co-chaired on Thursday the 12th meeting of the exchange mechanism between the legislative bodies of China and France in Beijing with Yael Braun-Pivet, speaker of the French National Assembly.

Zhao, chairman of the National People's Congress Standing Committee, said that China and France should consolidate mutual understanding and further deepen cooperation in traditional areas, while exploring cooperation in emerging sectors such as artificial intelligence and green, low-carbon development.

He emphasized the importance of resolving trade disputes through dialogue and consultation, and of strengthening people-to-people ties, and also underlined the need for stronger coordination in multilateral arenas.

On the Taiwan question, Zhao reiterated that it is at the core of China's interests, expressing the belief that France will uphold the one-China principle with concrete actions.

He also noted that the NPC stands ready to work with the French National Assembly to provide legal guarantees for bilateral practical cooperation and to strengthen exchanges with the European Parliament for the steady and sound development of relations between China and the European Union.

Braun-Pivet stressed the need for stronger communication and unity between the two countries, and she said both sides uphold multilateralism and oppose unilateralism and protectionism.

France hopes to enhance cooperation with China in various areas, she said, adding that the French National Assembly is willing to deepen dialogue with the NPC to inject new vitality into bilateral relations.