Li: China-France cooperation benefits the EU and world

China-France cooperation will not only benefit the two countries, but also the European Union and the rest of the world, Premier Li Keqiang said on Wednesday.

"Promoting strategic communication, expanding pragmatic cooperation and enhancing people-to-people exchanges between China and France will send out a positive message to the world under the current complicated international situation," he said.

Li made the remarks when meeting with French President Emmanuel Macron at the Great Hall of People in Beijing during his visit to China.

Noting that China and the EU have finished negotiations on the geographical indicators agreement on labeling of product origins, Li said he hoped the two sides can continue to work for early achievements in negotiations on the China-EU bilateral investment agreement.

The premier said that China is willing to strengthen coordination with France on reform issues of the World Trade Organization to better safeguard free trade and multilateralism.

China will also deepen cooperation with France in key areas such as nuclear energy, aviation and the third-party market, and push forward the implementation of more high-quality projects in line with market and commercial principles, he said.

Li added that China is willing to fulfill its international commitments on addressing climate change and continue to strengthen dialogue and cooperation in this area with France and the EU.

Macron underlined the strong momentum of the current development of France-China relationship, saying that the two sides have reached pragmatic achievements in such areas as nuclear energy, agricultural and food products, aviation and the cultural industry during his state visit.

China and France have also agreed on a road-map for the pursuing the development of bilateral ties, he said.

At the invitation of President Xi Jinping, Macron attended the opening ceremony of the second China International Import Expo and paid a three-day state visit to China that concluded on Wednesday.