On July 10, 2012, Vice Premier Li Keqiang met with French Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius at the Great Hall of the People.
Li said both China and France are influential countries in the world and China has taken its relationship with France as a priority of its foreign relations. China is ready to work closely with the new French government to strengthen political mutual trust, cement economic and trade cooperation and humanities exchanges, and enhance coordination in global affairs in a bid to build new China-France comprehensive strategic partnership which is mature, stable and oriented to the world based on mutual trust and benefit.
Li said the current world economic situation is still complex and grim. As China and France are both major economic powers, they should give full play to the huge potential in their cooperation. Both sides should innovate ways of cooperation and enhance joint research and development and joint venture cooperation. Li called on both countries to enhance cooperation in traditional areas such as aviation and nuclear energy and to boost the progress of cooperation in new energy and other new fields. He urged both sides to expand two-way investment, expand the international market and promote dynamic balance of trade in development to make a bigger cake. The vice premier expressed the hope that France will ease restrictions on exports of high-tech products to China. During Li's visit to the EU headquarters in May, China and the EU signed a joint declaration on urbanization. The vice premier called on China and France to beef up exchange of experience and substantial cooperation in urbanization to inject greater vitality into their respective economic and social development.
Li told Fabius that China has closely followed the development of the EU sovereign debt crisis and supports the EU's positive efforts to solve the issue. China and the EU are interdependent partners with mutual benefit. "Forging closer China-EU comprehensive strategic partnership not only helps the EU's efforts to cope with the sovereign debt crisis, but also promotes world peace, stability and prosperity and serves the common interest of both sides," said the vice premier. He called on France to continue playing a positive role within the EU and push forward China-France, China-EU ties.
Fabius said the French government values China's role and international status, vowing to make joint efforts with China to keep closer high-level exchanges, enhance dialogue and pragmatic cooperation, expand common interests and push for all-round development of the ties.