Xi Jinping Speaks with French President Emmanuel Macron on the Phone

On the afternoon of February 16, 2022, President Xi Jinping had a phone conversation with French President Emmanuel Macron.

Macron extended Spring Festival greetings to Xi Jinping and the Chinese People for the Year of the Tiger, and offered congratulations on the splendid and successful opening ceremony of the Olympic Winter Games Beijing 2022. He said, it's a demanding task for China to host the Games as scheduled under the current circumstances. France has always supported and will continue to fully support China's efforts to make a success of the Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games Beijing 2022.

Xi Jinping extended Spring Festival greetings to Macron and the French people. He pointed out, the fact that the Olympic Winter Games Beijing 2022 has unfolded smoothly as scheduled demonstrates that peace, solidarity and progress are common aspirations of the international community. He extended congratulations on the French athletes' excellent performance.

Xi Jinping stressed, in 2021, we had two phone conversations, attended two China-France-Germany video summits, and actively promoted the development of bilateral relations. Our efforts have yielded fruitful results. Last year, bilateral trade exceeded 80 billion U.S. dollars, and China's total imports of agricultural products from France increased by 40 percent year on year. The first China-France seminars on artificial intelligence and on agri-tech cooperation were held in succession, and the first guidelines for collecting joint laboratory projects were released as scheduled. All these efforts are of pioneering significance. In the new year, China and France should keep up with the positive, sound and upward keynote, uphold the principle of mutual respect and treating each other as equals, strengthen dialogue and exchanges at all levels, enhance mutual understanding and mutual trust, and push for new achievements in China-France cooperation.

Xi Jinping pointed out, since assuming the rotating presidency of the Council of the European Union (EU) this year, France has done a lot to enhance EU solidarity and strengthen Europe's strategic autonomy. I have stressed on multiple occasions that China and the EU should uphold correct mutual cognition, and stick to mutual respect, dialogue and cooperation, mutual benefit and win-win results. China and the EU should work together to build the greatest common ground and push for a new development of China-EU relations. China is ready to work with France to make a success of the China-EU Leaders' Meeting and a new round of high-level dialogues on strategy, economy, trade, green development, digital economy, and people-to-people and cultural affairs, and push for ratification and entry into force of the China-EU investment agreement, so as to deliver tangible benefits to the two peoples.

Macron said, against the backdrop of the current international situation fraught with tension and turbulence, France hopes all the more to work with China to deepen the comprehensive strategic partnership. France is satisfied with the major achievements the two countries have made over recent years in bilateral cooperation in technology, agriculture, aviation, nuclear energy and other fields. France stands ready to work with China to explore ways to overcome the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, strengthen personnel exchanges, enhance friendship and mutual trust, and deepen mutually beneficial cooperation. During its rotating presidency of the Council of the EU in the first half of this year, France will make all-out efforts to advance the positive agenda between the EU and China, and work together with China to ensure the success of the EU-China Leaders' Meeting and push forward the development of EU-China relations. France hopes that progress will be made in the ratification and entry into force of the EU-China investment agreement.

The two heads of state reached important consensus on bilateral cooperation for the next stage.

First, push for early implementation of cooperation on agricultural science and technology, as well as cooperation between agricultural industries with local advantages. China encourages more French agrifood enterprises that meet China's requirements to register in China.

Second, deepen the China-France green manufacturing partnership initiative, and provide a fair, equitable and non-discriminatory business environment for enterprises from the other country.

Third, support more French banks and financial infrastructure in joining the RMB Cross-Border Interbank Payment System. The Chinese side will review and approve the applications of French banks for financial qualifications in a positive manner and in accordance with relevant procedures and standards.

Fourth, support aviation enterprises of the two countries to deepen cooperation in various forms, and promote mutual airworthiness certification for aircraft.

Fifth, accelerate the implementation of the list of the fourth batch of demonstration projects in third-party market cooperation.

Sixth, hold the space and cyber sub-group meetings of the China-France Strategic Dialogue at an early date, carry out polar and maritime dialogues, and strengthen military dialogue and exchanges at all levels.

Macron introduced his views on the current situation in Ukraine. Xi Jinping stressed, relevant parties should stick to the general direction of political settlement, make full use of multilateral platforms including the Normandy format, and seek a comprehensive settlement of the Ukraine issue through dialogue and consultation.

The two sides also exchanged views on other issues of common concern.