Premier Li Keqiang met with visiting French President Emmanuel Macron at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing on Jan 9.

Premier Li said that China-France ties is a forefront of China’s relationship with other Western powers, which stems from their mutual respect, equal treatment and win-win cooperation.

As permanent members of the Security Council of the UN, the Premier said, the two countries should strengthen cooperation to cope with challenges together against a backdrop of many uncertainties in today’s world. China is ready to work with France to push bilateral relations to a higher level, he added.

“As China is deepening reform and opening-up and further relaxing market access, I believe there will be more opportunities for it to cooperate with other countries, including France.” Premier Li said. “I hope the French side could increase investment in China and export more high quality products to China, while relaxing restrictions on export of high-tech products.”

China is supportive of the European integration, confident about its development prospects, and is willing to promote negotiation on bilateral investment treaty, the Premier said.

Macron spoke highly of China-France relations, expressing his country’s willingness to layout bilateral economic and trade cooperation plans with China, and to strengthen mutual beneficial cooperation in scientific research, artificial intelligence, aviation, nuclear energy and agriculture, by giving full play to each others’ advantages.

He also called on both sides to expand their market, promote the China-France, and China-Europe relations to a new level and join hands to make contributions to global peace and development.