Look forward to new prospects for China-France relations
By
Zhai Jun
Paris
has already felt the warmth of the spring wind in March. In this beautiful
season of the revivification of nature, President Xi Jinping is about to pay
his second state visit to France.
In
March five years ago, President Xi visited France, and the leaders of the two
countries reviewed the precious experience of the development of bilateral
relations in half a century. Both countries have followed the spirit of
independence, mutual understanding, strategic vision and win-win cooperation in
developing bilateral ties, a principle providing important guidance to an even
brighter future of China-France relations.
Today,
five years later, our world is undergoing profound changes unseen in a century.
On one hand, the trend toward globalization and informatization is gaining
momentum, and countries are increasingly interconnected and interdependent. The
historical trend of peace, development, openness, and cooperation is
irreversible. On the other hand, amid surging protectionism, unilateralism and
populism, as well as growing uncertainty and instability in international
situation, the global governance system based on multilateralism is faced with
challenges unseen before.
There
are certain historic occasions that empower us with the wisdom and strength to move
forward. This year marks the 55th anniversary of the establishment of
diplomatic relations between China and France. President Xi’s visit this time
is the first visit to France by a Chinese top leader after the 19th National
Congress of the Communist Party of China and President Emmanuel Macron’s
assumption of office. It is of great significance for promoting the development
of China-France and China-Europe relations in the new era.
The
two countries will take President Xi’s visit as an opportunity to revitalize
the spirit of bilateral diplomatic relations, and plan the future of bilateral
relations from a historical and strategic perspective to better benefit both
countries and people of the world.
China
and France should continue to respect each other, seek common ground while
reserving differences, and set a model of relations between eastern and western
major countries. 55 years ago, China and France independently made a great
decision to establish ambassadorial diplomatic ties, transcending their huge
differences in geography, national conditions, ideology, and political systems
and focusing on the common and long-term interests of both sides.
Today,
the desire for independence and the pursuit of multi-polarity are still the
underlying features of China-France relations, and the inexhaustible energy for
boosting closer and sincere bilateral cooperation.
China
and France should continuously make new progress for mutual benefit and win-win
results, and deepen pragmatic cooperation and integration of interests.
The
two sides will make solid efforts to advance cooperation in traditional fields
such as nuclear energy and aerospace, and maintain the prominent
characteristics of pragmatic and strategic cooperation. Both sides will also
strengthen cooperation in emerging fields such as agricultural integration,
digitalization, artificial intelligence, medicine and health, and green
development to promote deep integration of development strategies.
Meanwhile,
the two countries will also actively facilitate cooperation under the framework
of the Belt and Road Initiative via cooperation platforms in third-party
markets, in a bid to chart the course for the BRI cooperation between China and
Europe.
China
and France should uphold openness, inclusiveness, exchanges and mutual learning
to further strengthen people-to-people and cultural exchanges and cooperation.
Both countries should promote in-depth communication and cooperation in a wide
range of areas including language, culture, science, education, health and
sports, especially exchanges between young people, from a perspective of
dialogue between the two civilizations.
By
doing so, the two countries will bring closer the hearts of the two peoples,
pass on bilateral friendship from generation to generation, and promote
exchanges and mutual learning among different civilizations in the world for
the prosperity of human civilization.
Still
further, China and France should stand together with a global perspective to
enhance strategic coordination and cooperation. As permanent members of the
United Nations Security Council, China and France should take responsibility
for speaking with one voice on safeguarding basic norms of international
relations, promoting global peace and prosperity, and advancing international
unity and justice in an unstable world troubled by mounting unilateralism.
The
two sides should also intensify communication and coordination to tackle
climate change, address the Iranian nuclear issue, promote the reform of the
World Trade Organization (WTO), and build broader consensus to safeguard
multilateralism and improve global governance.
These
endeavors will provide solutions to challenges facing the international
community and to the building of a community with a shared future for mankind.
Spring
is meant to bring people confidence and strength. I look forward to President
Xi Jinping’s upcoming historic visit to France, which will bring new prospects
for China-France relations and the world.
(The author is Chinese Ambassador to France.)
(Source: People’s
Daily)
Look forward to new prospects for China-France relations
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