China, France to strengthen cooperation in nuclear energy, climate change

Chinese Premier Li Keqiang (R) meets with visiting French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian in Beijing, capital of China, Nov. 24, 2017. (Xinhua/Zhang Duo)

Premier Li Keqiang said Friday that China will strengthen cooperation with France in civilian nuclear energy and work jointly to cope with climate change.

Li made the remarks during a meeting with visiting French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian in Beijing.

There is huge potential for deepening all-round cooperation between China and France, Li said, calling for more cooperation in fields including nuclear energy.

He called on the two sides to play an active role in coping with climate change and the implementation of the Paris Agreement, and work jointly to promote an open world economy and safeguard multilateralism.

Hailing the two countries' good relationship, Li said China attaches strategic importance to its ties with France and will work jointly to promote the sound and steady development of bilateral relations.

China supports EU integration and is pleased to see a prosperous and stable European Union, Li said.

He hoped that a stronger China-France relationship would contribute to the development of China-EU ties, and that China's cooperation with the Central and Eastern European (CEE) countries will contribute to the balanced development of the European Union.

France stands ready to maintain high-level exchanges with China and strengthen cooperation in nuclear energy and climate change, Le Drian said.

On the same day, Chinese State Councilor Yang Jiechi met with Le Drian.

Yang introduced the outcomes of the 19th National Congress of the Communist Party of China to Le Drian, saying this year is quite remarkable as the two countries' heads of state met for the first time on the sidelines of the G20 summit in Hamburg, Germany.

China will work jointly with France to promote high-level contact, expand people-to-people exchanges, and strengthen cooperation in innovation, Yang said.

Yang's meeting with Le Drian was followed by Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi's talks with his French counterpart.

During the talks, both sides agreed to safeguard the political basis of bilateral ties, respect each other and take each other's core interests into consideration, and work jointly to prepare for French President Emmanuel Macron's upcoming visit to China.

The two sides also agreed to strengthen cooperation in major projects, sports, student internship programs, as well as international hotspot issues.

France is willing to discuss cooperation with China under the Belt and Road Initiative, according to Le Drian.

Le Drian is visiting China from Nov. 24 to 27.