Beijing, May 23, 2025 – The Europe Today: Chinese President Xi Jinping on Thursday reaffirmed China’s commitment to deepening strategic cooperation with France, urging both countries to act as “reliable forces” for preserving international order, driving global growth, and guiding multilateral cooperation in an increasingly complex global landscape.
In a telephone conversation with French President Emmanuel Macron, Xi emphasized the importance of jointly safeguarding the authority of the United Nations, defending international trade rules, and practicing genuine multilateralism.
Reflecting on his state visit to France in May last year, Xi noted that both sides had agreed to carry forward the core spirit of China-France diplomatic relations—marked by independence, mutual understanding, strategic vision, and win-win cooperation—and to infuse it with contemporary relevance. Since then, he said, bilateral cooperation has seen significant progress.
Xi called for enhanced strategic communication and consensus-building between the two nations. He encouraged deepening cooperation in traditional sectors such as investment, aerospace, and nuclear energy, while expanding collaboration in emerging fields like the digital economy, green development, biomedicine, and the silver economy.
Highlighting the importance of people-to-people and cultural exchanges, Xi also advocated for stronger bonds of friendship between the Chinese and French peoples.
This year marks the 80th anniversary of the victory in the World Anti-Fascist War and the founding of the United Nations. Xi underscored the role of China and France, both permanent members of the UN Security Council and founding members of the post-war international order, in defending global peace and stability.
“The more complex the international situation becomes, the more China and France need to make the right strategic choice,” Xi said.
He reaffirmed China’s support for Europe as an independent pillar in a multipolar world and expressed readiness to collaborate with the European Union to address global challenges and yield mutually beneficial results.
For his part, President Macron described France-China and EU-China relations as globally significant. He reiterated France’s strong commitment to the one-China principle and expressed willingness to deepen practical cooperation with China in trade, investment, and other key sectors.
Macron emphasized France’s dedication to maintaining the positive momentum of bilateral ties and promoting further progress in France-China relations.
Amid a rapidly evolving international situation, the French leader called for enhanced communication and coordination with China on major global issues. He highlighted the joint responsibility of China and France, as permanent Security Council members, to prevent the escalation of conflicts and maintain global and regional peace and stability.
Macron also underscored the importance of strengthening EU-China dialogue to protect common interests.
During the call, Xi and Macron held in-depth discussions on key international and regional concerns, including the Ukraine crisis, the Israel-Palestine conflict, and the Iranian nuclear issue. Both leaders reaffirmed their commitment to collaborative diplomacy and peaceful conflict resolution.
