China is ready to work with France to prepare for the high-level exchanges in the next phase to inject new momentum to the comprehensive strategic partnership between the two countries, State Councilor Yang Jiechi said on Tuesday.

Yang made the remark when co-hosting a new round of strategic dialogue between China and France with Philippe Etienne, foreign policy adviser of the French president during the new round being held in Beijing on Tuesday afternoon.

China sees France as a vital friend and partner in China’s path of development in the new era and is willing to further coordinate with France in international affairs, Yang said.

Sino-French relations has been on the front rank of China’s relations with most Western countries, and the two telephone conversations between President Xi Jinping and his French counterpart Emmanuel Macron, as well as their meeting in Hamburg in July, have guided the direction for Sino-French ties in the new era, he said.

He added that the 19th National Congress of the Communist Party of China, which concluded in October, has offered historical opportunity to developing Sino-French ties.

China is willing to enhance political mutual trust with France, and will enhance cooperation with the countries in areas of nuclear energy, aviation, industrial manufacturing and trade, Yang said, adding that China hopes to see France playing a positive and constructive role in developing relation between China and Europe.

Etienne told Yang that the 19th National Congress of the CPC has made important plans for China’s development, and will exert great influence on Europe and the world at large. He said France attaches great importance to China’s increasing international status and gives top priority to developing relations with China in its foreign policy. He said France is willing to deepen high-level exchanges with China and jointly maintain multilateralism and to bring bilateral ties to a higher level.