Sino-French ties lauded during high-level phone call

The vital role of the heads of state of China and France in guiding bilateral relations within a rapidly changing international environment was highlighted on Thursday during a phone call between Foreign Minister Wang Yi and Emmanuel Bonne, diplomatic adviser to France's president.

Wang, a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, said the world is facing intertwined turbulence, with new challenges emerging one after another, making regular dialogue and strengthened strategic coordination between China and France necessary.

Reaffirming Beijing's position on Taiwan, Wang said recent provocative remarks by Japan's prime minister were contrary to the course of history and infringed on China's sovereignty and territorial integrity.

As permanent members of the United Nations Security Council and comprehensive strategic partners, China and France, he said, should work together to safeguard the outcomes of World War II and firmly support each other on issues concerning their core interests. He expressed the hope that France would continue to uphold the one-China principle.

Wang also called on France to encourage the European Union to pursue a positive and rational policy toward China, properly manage economic and trade differences through dialogue, and steer China-EU ties onto the right track and promote their sound development.

Bonne said France's President Emmanuel Macron looks forward to visiting China soon, to further consolidate the personal friendship between the two heads of state and engage in in-depth strategic communication on strengthening France-China and EU-China relations, as well as to jointly address global crises.

France remains steadfast in its one-China policy and understands China's legitimate position on Taiwan, Bonne said. He added that France hopes to work with China to respond to global governance and economic imbalance, and stands ready to play a positive role in advancing EU-China dialogue and cooperation.

Both sides exchanged views on the Russia-Ukraine conflict. Wang reiterated China's support for all efforts conducive to peace and for reaching a comprehensive, lasting peace agreement that is acceptable to all parties involved.

China also supports building a balanced, effective, and sustainable European security architecture, Wang said, adding that the country is willing to maintain communication with the French side on the matter.