French president to pay three-day state visit

French President Emmanuel Macron will begin a three-day state visit to China on Wednesday, a trip that is seen as an opportunity for the two countries to step up strategic communication, deepen practical cooperation and work for closer coordination in multilateral affairs.

During the visit, President Xi Jinping will hold talks with Macron to jointly guide the development of ties under the new circumstances and have an in-depth exchange of views on major international and regional hot spot issues, Foreign Ministry spokesman Lin Jian said on Monday.

This will be Macron's fourth state visit to China, made in return for the historic state visit that Xi made to France last year, when the two countries celebrated the 60th anniversary of diplomatic ties, Lin told a daily news briefing.

Premier Li Qiang and Zhao Leji, chairman of the National People's Congress Standing Committee, will also meet with Macron, according to the spokesman.

In 1964, France established diplomatic relations with the People's Republic of China, making it the first major Western country to do so.

"China-France relations have a cherished history, unique value and an important mission," Lin said, adding that under the strategic guidance of the two heads of state, the countries have engaged in close interactions at all levels, obtained rich outcomes of pragmatic cooperation and coordinated effectively on multilateral affairs.

Lin said that China hopes to work with France to take Macron's visit as an opportunity to not only boost bilateral ties, but also promote the sound and steady development of China-Europe relations and upholding multilateralism, world peace and prosperity.

According to the Foreign Ministry, France is China's third-largest trading partner in the European Union, and China is France's largest trading partner in Asia.

Cui Hongjian, director of Beijing Foreign Studies University's Center for European Union and Regional Development Studies, said the continuous strategic communication between the two countries has become a major characteristic of bilateral ties.

Last week, top diplomat Wang Yi held a phone call with Emmanuel Bonne, diplomatic adviser to the French president, saying that he hopes France promotes the healthy development of China-EU relations along the right track.

In recent years, the EU has exaggerated its competition with China in the field of economy and trade and highlighted its differences with China in the geopolitical field, Cui said.

"I believe the Chinese and French sides will discuss and come up with common understandings on some specific issues during the visit," he said.

"Hopefully these potential outcomes will not only help stabilize China-France ties and China-EU ties, but also help the parties focus on cooperation to tackle common challenges, instead of viewing each other as challenges," Cui said.

Wang Yiwei, a professor at Renmin University of China's School of International Studies, said it is important for China and France, both permanent members of the United Nations Security Council, to strengthen coordination on various issues, such as global development and climate change.

Wang suggested both sides tap into the potential of cooperation in emerging and high technological sectors, such as new energy and software.

wangqingyun@chinadaily.com.cn