On November 11, Vice President Wang Qishan met French President Emmanuel Macron at the Elysee Palace in Paris.
Wang Qishan said that last week's state visit to China by Mr. President was a great success. The heads of state of the two countries carried out in-depth and friendly exchanges and reached a series of strategic consensus, demonstrated the determination of China and France to deepen political mutual trust, promote pragmatic cooperation, and work together to meet global challenges under the new situation, and sent a positive signal to the international community. Both China and France are major historical and cultural powers and bear an important responsibility to the world today. History, reality and the future have closely linked our two countries. The comprehensive strategic partnership between China and France is reflected in the common thinking and the same and appropriate views on the future and destiny of human society, as well as in the concrete actions to safeguard multilateralism and promote the improvement of global governance. China is willing to work with France to implement the consensus of the heads of state of the two countries, and push China-French and China-EU relations to a new level.
Macron recalled with pleasure his visit to China last week and thanked the Chinese side for its warm reception and thoughtful arrangements. He said, the in-depth exchanges with President Xi Jinping have deepened the friendship between the two sides and reached many important consensus. France will unswervingly develop friendly relations with China, further strengthen practical cooperation with China in various fields such as investment, economy, trade and climate change, jointly uphold strong multilateralism, and contribute to the building of a more balanced international order.
On November 12, Wang Qishan attended the opening ceremony of the second Paris Peace Forum and delivered a speech.
Wang Qishan said, it took more than a century for the Chinese people to pursue their claims and achieve national independence and people's liberation under the leadership of the Communist Party of China. In the 70 years since the founding of the People's Republic of China, the Chinese people have worked hard, gone through construction and development, reform and opening up, and found a road of socialism with Chinese characteristics suitable for themselves. Great changes have taken place in the face of the country, the living standards and outlook of the people, and historic achievements have been made. We are sober-minded that China is still a developing country. China will first keep its own house in order, be cool-headed about achievements and opportunities,and maintain composure in dealing with risks and challenges. We will uphold and improve the system of socialism with Chinese characteristics, promote the modernization of China's governance system and capacity, and make relentless efforts to pursue the Chinese Dream of great national renewal.
Wang Qishan said, China is a champion of world peace, a contributor to global development, and a defender of the international order. The world today is like a vast ocean in which all countries are interconnected. We all share a promising future and face the same challenges. No one can stay unscathed or deal with these challenges on their own. Shifting troubles to others is not the right way forward. Collective response is the only viable solution. We are ready to work with all other countries to foster a community with a shared future for mankind, and champion a new type of international relations based on mutual respect, fairness, justice, and win-win cooperation. Through concrete actions, such as promoting Belt and Road cooperation, hosting the China International Import Expo, reducing the items on the negative list for foreign investment and improving the business environment, China is sharing with the world the vast opportunities of its development.
Wang Qishan said, the evolution of history is never a linear course. Only when seeing the direction clearly, can we make a rational and informed choice. The more difficulties we face, the more imperative it is for us to stay focused and patient, take concerted and vigorous actions, and let the sensible approach prevail. We are hopeful that countries could work together to reduce peace deficit by expanding converging interests, reinforce the safeguards for peace by upholding multilateralism, overcome the challenges to peace by enhancing equal-footed consultation, and strengthen the bond of peace by encouraging dialogue among civilizations. We are confident that we will be able to build a world free of war and poverty, a world with security and prosperity shared by all.
The Paris Peace Forum was established at the initiative of President Macron of France in 2018. The opening ceremony of the Forum was attended by more than 80 heads of state, heads of government, senior officials and heads of international and regional organizations.
During his stay in France, Wang Qishan also met with President of North Macedonia Stevo Pendarovski and had in-depth exchanges with French friends.