Premier Li Keqiang met with French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian on Nov 24 in Beijing.

Premier Li said as permanent members of the United Nations Security Council, China and France have developed a relationship that has outpaced other Western countries for a long time.

China values the relations with France from a strategic view, and is willing to work with France to push ahead the stable and healthy development of the ties, he added.

Premier Li said China and France have a wide space for further cooperation, and China stands ready to enhance cooperation with France in civilian nuclear energy and other sectors.

He added that China and France should play a positive role in tackling climate change, implementation of the Paris Agreement, open global economy, and multilateralism, contributing to world peace and healthy globalization.

[Photo/Xinhua]

Premier Li said that China supports European integration and a prosperous and stable European Union, and is willing to promote China-EU relationship through enhanced bilateral ties with France.

He also hoped that the cooperation between China and Central and Eastern Europe countries could drive regional development and facilitate a balanced development in EU.

Le Drian said that China and France are both dedicated to safeguarding world peace and stability, and common development.

France is willing to maintain frequent high-level exchanges with China, and deepen cooperation in civilian nuclear energy and climate change, in an effort to build a better China-EU partnership, he said.