Premier Li Keqiang met with French Foreign Minister Jean-Marc Ayrault at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing on May 16.

Premier Li said that China and France have high-level political mutual trust and deep practical cooperation in various fields. The two countries are also close in people-to-people exchanges. The Chinese government values the relationship with France and is willing to have deep cooperation with France in fields such as nuclear power, he said.

The Premier expressed the hope that the two sides can increase mutual investment and develop cooperation in the third party market. Communication and coordination should be strengthened in global and regional affairs, he said. Cooperation between the two sides should not only promote their own economic development, but also provide support for global economic growth, he added.

Premier Li introduced China’s current economic and financial situation. He pointed out that the Chinese economy has generally maintained stability since the beginning of 2016. Good trends are appearing in structural reform, industrial transformation and upgrading. “Though there are many difficulties and challenges facing China, we can make the economy operate within a reasonable range and prevent systematic financial risks,” the Premier said.

Ayrault said that France is optimistic about China’s economic future, as well as the prospect of bilateral ties. The French side is willing to improve high-level exchanges and cooperation in nuclear, electrical and cultural exchanges, and enhance multilateral coordination, with efforts to promote the development of France-China relationships.