The state-run CCTV (February 16) disclosed that President Xi Jinping had a phone call with
French President Emmanuel Macron on the afternoon of February 16 when Macron extended
Chinese New Year greetings and said, "The French side has always supported and will continue
to fully support the Beijing Winter Olympics". Xi Jinping emphasized that in 2021, "we will
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have two phone calls and two jointly attend the China-France-Germany Leaders' Video Summit
to actively promote the development of bilateral relations" He mentioned that last year, the
bilateral trade volume exceeded 80 billion US dollars and the total amount of Chinese
agricultural products imported from France increased by 40% year-on-year.
Xi Jinping pointed out that since France took over the rotating presidency of the EU this year,
it has done a lot to enhance EU unity and strengthen European strategic autonomy and said
China and the EU should make joint efforts to promote new development of China-EU relations.
It said the two heads of state reached a number of important consensuses on bilateral
cooperation in the next stage:
1. Promote cooperation in agricultural science and technology and local advantageous
agricultural industries as soon as possible. China welcomes more French agri-food enterprises
that meet China's requirements to register in China.
2. Deepen the Sino-French "Green Manufacturing Partnership" initiative and provide a fair,
just and non-discriminatory business environment for each other's enterprises to develop in
their own countries.
3. Support more French banks and financial infrastructure to access the RMB cross-border
payment system. The Chinese side will actively examine and approve the financial
qualification applications of French-funded banks in accordance with relevant procedures and
standards.
4. Support the aviation enterprises of the two countries to deepen cooperation in various forms
and promote the mutual airworthiness certification of aircraft.
5. Accelerate the implementation of the list of the fourth batch of demonstration projects for
third-party market cooperation.
6. Hold the China-France strategic dialogue space group meetings and online group meetings
as soon as possible, carry out polar and maritime dialogues, and strengthen dialogues and
exchanges between the two militaries at all levels.
Macron introduced his views on the current situation in Ukraine. Xi Jinping stressed that all
parties concerned should adhere to the general direction of political settlement, make full use
of multilateral platforms including the Normandy mechanism, and seek a comprehensive
solution to the Ukraine issue through dialogue and consultation.
They also exchanged views on other issues of mutual concern.
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