The meetings scheduled for French President Emmanuel Macron's upcoming state visit to China from Wednesday to Friday demonstrate the importance China attaches to its relations with France.

Chinese President Xi Jinping is due to hold talks with Macron to exchange in-depth views on major international and regional issues and Premier Li Qiang and Chairman of the National People's Congress Standing Committee Zhao Leji are also expected to separately meet with him.

This will be Macron's fourth state visit to the country, and a timely return visit following Xi's visit to France last year, which marked the 60th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and France.

France was the first major Western country to establish diplomatic relations with the People's Republic of China, giving China-France ties a unique historical depth and international influence.

As President Xi has emphasized, the spirit that guided the establishment of diplomatic relations — independence, mutual understanding, strategic vision and win-win cooperation — remains indispensable amid today's geopolitical turbulence. Over the past year, under the strategic guidance of the two heads of state, bilateral relations have achieved new progress, with close high-level exchanges, steady advancement in practical cooperation, and deepening multilateral coordination.

Today, as the international situation is marked by uncertainty, intertwined risks and new global challenges, China views France as an essential partner with whom it can uphold true multilateralism, safeguard the authority of the United Nations and jointly shoulder the responsibilities of major powers. As both are permanent members of the UN Security Council and founders of the postwar international order, China and France share a responsibility to resist bloc confrontation, oppose unilateral bullying and prevent the world from sliding into hegemonic conflicts.

Foreign Minister Wang Yi has repeatedly underscored the importance of the two sides maintaining regular dialogue, strengthening strategic coordination, and deepening all-round mutually beneficial cooperation. China hopes France will continue to uphold its tradition of independent diplomacy, firmly adhere to the one-China principle and work with China to safeguard the postwar international order. China also encourages France to play a constructive role within the European Union, promoting a rational, positive and cooperative approach toward China.

Looking ahead, China is willing to work with France to enhance their traditional areas of cooperation — in nuclear energy, aerospace, trade and investment — while expanding collaboration in emerging sectors such as artificial intelligence, green energy, biotechnology, the digital economy and the silver economy. China's new stage of high-quality development and high-standard opening-up will offer broader market opportunities to French companies and China will continue to import more high-quality French products and welcome competitive French companies to deepen their presence in the Chinese market, while expecting France to provide a fair, transparent and nondiscriminatory business environment for Chinese enterprises.

With new initiatives including the expansion of student exchanges, the China-France Young Leaders Program, and renewed local-government cooperation, the two sides are poised to further strengthen the foundation of long-term friendship between the two peoples.

As global crises — from the Ukraine conflict to unrest in the Middle East — continue to evolve, China and France have maintained close communication. China supports all efforts conducive to peace and advocates a balanced, effective and sustainable security architecture in Europe. Both sides also share a broad consensus on addressing global governance challenges, promoting development and supporting inclusive globalization.

At a time when the world urgently needs stability and cooperation, China stands ready to work with France to uphold the spirit of the establishment of diplomatic ties, maintain close communication and coordination, advance bilateral relations to new heights and contribute more certainty and positive energy to China-EU relations and global peace, stability and prosperity.

It is anticipated that Macron's visit will not only consolidate the friendship between the two heads of state but also help foster new progress in China-France comprehensive strategic partnership — one that the world will watch closely and benefit from profoundly.

- Li Yang, China Daily