Wang Yi Speaks with New French Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs Catherine Colonna on the Phone

On May 26, 2022, State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi had a phone conversation with new French Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs Catherine Colonna.

Wang Yi said, France, a major country with global influence, has always been committed to independent foreign policy. Facing the once-in-a-century changes in the world, China and France need to deepen strategic coordination. President Xi Jinping and President Emmanuel Macron have established solid mutual trust and friendship, and maintained close communication, providing strategic guidance for the two countries to jointly deal with global challenges and also injecting stability into the turbulent and volatile world. Not long ago, the two heads of state had a successful phone conversation, stressing that both sides need to unswervingly stick to the comprehensive strategic partnership between the two countries and mutual respect for each other's core interests. We should work together to follow through on the consensus reached by the two heads of state, and make new efforts to promote China-France relations, deepen cooperation between China and the European Union (EU), and improve global governance.

Colonna said, China is an important partner and friend of France. France attaches great importance to ensuring sound implementation of the important consensus reached by the two heads of state and the action plan for bilateral relations, stays committed to boosting France-China friendship, and stands ready to maintain high-level exchanges between the two sides. France will take the 60th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties as an opportunity to deepen pragmatic cooperation between the two countries in a wide range of fields, and elevate France-China comprehensive strategic partnership to a new height.

Wang Yi said, all-round pragmatic cooperation between China and France not only brings important benefits to both sides, but also makes Chinese and French contributions to world peace and development. China attaches importance to carrying out the action plan for China-France relations, and stands ready to keep adding new dimensions to bilateral cooperation.

Both sides agreed that they should jointly lead the positive momentum of global cooperation on climate change and biodiversity conservation, and push for positive results in the second phase of the 15th meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity.

The two sides exchanged views on China-EU relations. Wang Yi stressed, China firmly supports European integration, and supports France in playing its role as the rotating presidency to strengthen European strategic autonomy. China and the EU are partners rather than rivals, with amicable relations being the keynote and cooperation being the mainstream. The two sides should conduct candid and in-depth communication on the premise of mutual respect and with the aim of enhancing mutual understanding, and refrain from megaphone diplomacy. Colonna said, France cherishes its tradition of independent diplomacy and stays committed to deepening EU-China cooperation and jointly tackling global challenges.

The two sides exchanged views on the Ukraine issue. Wang Yi said, the two heads of state have had multiple phone conversations and reached important consensus on ceasing fire and stopping hostilities as soon as possible, actively promoting peace talks, reducing spillover effects, and guarding against bloc confrontation, thus pointing out an important direction for strengthening coordination and cooperation between the two sides. The tension between Russia and Ukraine has come to a new crossroads. On the one hand, the conflict is evolving into a protracted and complicated one. On the other hand, we have seen a growing call for peace and mounting efforts to promote peace talks. The pressing task is for all parties to form synergy and do more things that are conducive to promoting peace talks instead of adding fuel to the fire. China is glad to see France actively playing a mediating role, and China will continue to play a constructive role in its own way. Colonna expounded on France's principled position, saying that France stays committed to achieving lasting peace and agrees that all parties should play a constructive role under the current circumstances.

The two sides also exchanged views on the situation on the Korean Peninsula and other issues.