China and France will hold three high-level dialogues on strategic, economic, financial and cultural issues this year, Foreign Minister Wang Yi said after meeting with his French counterpart in Beijing on Thursday.
In a meeting Wang described as "constructive" that included discussions on bilateral and China-EU relations, he said both countries will also put to use the consultation mechanism between both foreign ministries for in-depth communication on common issues.
Wang met French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot on Thursday morning at Beijing's Diaoyutai State Guesthouse. Barrot is in China on a two-day visit that ends on Friday.
"In the face of profound changes in the international landscape, both sides should, as comprehensive strategic partners, demonstrate historical awareness, uphold multilateralism, oppose unilateralism," he told reporters after the meeting.
Both sides agreed to deepen cooperation in agriculture, nuclear energy, aviation and aerospace, while exploring innovative industries such as artificial intelligence, digital economy, intelligent connected vehicles, green hydrogen and biomanufacturing.
"We will also encourage more capable and willing Chinese enterprises to invest and do business in France," Wang said.
Wang skirted the trade dispute between both countries but Barrot emphasised seeking a resolution to it.
France opposes any form of trade war and advocates dialogue on trade issues, particularly between the European Union and China, Barrot said, reiterating his country's defense of its cognac industry.
China had in October imposed provisional tariffs ranging from 30.6% to 39% on European brandy imports, days after the European Union voted for tariffs on Chinese electric vehicles.
The move affected French cognac brands the most, shrinking the value of their exports by nearly a quarter last year.
"I know that our common goal is to reach a rapid solution to this issue, which would allow us to focus our energies and efforts on building partnerships and investments for the future within the framework of a positive agenda," he said.
On the Ukraine war, Barrot pushed China to play a role in convincing Russia to negotiate with serious and good-faith proposals.
France and China's relations will be "all the more productive and all the stronger" if commercial and security interests were taken into account, he added.
Both ministers also commended their countries' joint efforts towards adddressing climate challenges.
"China is resolute in its commitment to advancing international climate governance and addressing climate challenges," Wang said.
France called on China for high-level participation alongside it towards commitments to the oceans.
SIPRI’s annual report, released Monday, said global military expenditure reached $2.72 trillion in 2024, a 9.4% increase from 2023 and the largest year-on-year rise since the Cold War's end. This marks the tenth straight year of growth.
China has announced that it has taken control of Sandy Cay reef, a disputed landform in the South China Sea, located just a few kilometers from a key Philippine military outpost. The reef, which China refers to as Tiexian Jiao, is also claimed by Taiwan, Vietnam, and the Philippines.
Donald Trump's cabinet members sent mixed signals on whether tariff talks with China are underway, despite Trump's claims, fueling confusion as market instability and recession fears grow amid ongoing tensions between the world’s two largest economies.
Foreign ministers from Central Asia and China gathered in Almaty, Kazakhstan, on Saturday for the sixth meeting under the Central Asia-China format, aiming to deepen regional cooperation and address shared challenges.
China and Kazakhstan have reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening their permanent comprehensive strategic partnership, pledging to boost cooperation across key sectors during the second China-Kazakhstan Foreign Ministers' Strategic Dialogue in Beijing.
Germany's next chancellor, Friedrich Merz, on Monday announced his first major cabinet nominations. He selected energy executive Katherina Reiche as the likely economy minister and close ally Johann Wadephul, a foreign policy expert, as foreign minister.
Uzbekistan and the Philippines are working to boost bilateral investment cooperation, with a focus on key sectors such as ICT, electrical engineering, transport, geology, and textiles.
The Kremlin announced Monday that Russia will implement a full ceasefire in Ukraine from May 8 to May 10, coinciding with its celebrations of Victory Day over Nazi Germany. The truce, ordered by President Vladimir Putin for "humanitarian reasons," will begin at midnight on May 8 (2100 GMT, May 7).
Greece plans to equip its railways with remote control systems and real-time tracking by September, aiming to improve safety after the country’s deadliest train disaster.
Spanish power grid operator Red Electrica said it was working with energy companies to restore power after large parts of Spain and Portugal were hit by a power outage on Monday.
China has rolled out the world’s first 10-gigabit (10G) fixed broadband network in Xiong'an New Area, promising ultra-fast speeds and low latency through cutting-edge optical infrastructure.
Russia launched a major missile and drone assault on Kyiv overnight on April 24, killing at least twelve people and injuring 90, including children and a pregnant woman, according to Mayor Vitali Klitschko.
China’s pivot away from U.S. liquefied petroleum gas under new tariffs is shaking global energy flows, slashing demand, and fuelling a scramble for alternatives across Asia, with Middle Eastern suppliers and rival buyers seizing the moment.
In an expansive interview marking his first 100 days back in office, President Donald Trump sketched out an agenda that touches everything from punitive tariffs and China policy to cease-fire hopes in Ukraine and an overhaul of domestic programmes. Below are the highlights.
A deadly attack targeting tourists in India’s Jammu and Kashmir territory has left at least 20 feared dead, marking the deadliest incident against civilians in the region for years, according to security sources.
Germany's next chancellor, Friedrich Merz, on Monday announced his first major cabinet nominations. He selected energy executive Katherina Reiche as the likely economy minister and close ally Johann Wadephul, a foreign policy expert, as foreign minister.
Uzbekistan and the Philippines are working to boost bilateral investment cooperation, with a focus on key sectors such as ICT, electrical engineering, transport, geology, and textiles.
The Kremlin announced Monday that Russia will implement a full ceasefire in Ukraine from May 8 to May 10, coinciding with its celebrations of Victory Day over Nazi Germany. The truce, ordered by President Vladimir Putin for "humanitarian reasons," will begin at midnight on May 8 (2100 GMT, May 7).
Greece plans to equip its railways with remote control systems and real-time tracking by September, aiming to improve safety after the country’s deadliest train disaster.
Spanish power grid operator Red Electrica said it was working with energy companies to restore power after large parts of Spain and Portugal were hit by a power outage on Monday.
Germany's next chancellor, Friedrich Merz, on Monday announced his first major cabinet nominations. He selected energy executive Katherina Reiche as the likely economy minister and close ally Johann Wadephul, a foreign policy expert, as foreign minister.
Uzbekistan and the Philippines are working to boost bilateral investment cooperation, with a focus on key sectors such as ICT, electrical engineering, transport, geology, and textiles.
The Kremlin announced Monday that Russia will implement a full ceasefire in Ukraine from May 8 to May 10, coinciding with its celebrations of Victory Day over Nazi Germany. The truce, ordered by President Vladimir Putin for "humanitarian reasons," will begin at midnight on May 8 (2100 GMT, May 7).
Greece plans to equip its railways with remote control systems and real-time tracking by September, aiming to improve safety after the country’s deadliest train disaster.
Spanish power grid operator Red Electrica said it was working with energy companies to restore power after large parts of Spain and Portugal were hit by a power outage on Monday.
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