On September 29, 2012, Vice Premier Li Keqiang met with the French president's diplomatic advisor Paul Jean-Ortiz at the Great Hall of the People.

Li conveyed the greetings of President Hu Jintao and other Chinese leaders to French President Francois Hollande. China and France are both important countries in the world, with extensive common interests and ground for cooperation, Li said. "Under the circumstances of a changing international order and a sluggish global economic recovery, stronger China-France cooperation and new progress in the countries' compressive strategic partnership will go beyond the bilateral scope," Li said. The vice premier called on the two countries to take a long-term perspective in viewing bilateral ties, respect each other's core interests and major concerns and expand common ground and coordination on international issues. "China and France should deepen pragmatic cooperation in the fields of high-tech, health and urbanization, as well as on particularly big projects, and help bilateral trade move toward a dynamic balance," said Li.

Li pointed out that Europe is an important pole in the world and the 15th China-EU summit reaffirmed the global and strategic nature of the China-EU relations. Li said China is glad to see the European Stability Mechanism to take effect and will continue to participate in resolving the European debt issues in multiple ways. Li expects France to exert its power within the European Union and promote the development of China-Europe relations.

Jean-Ortiz said the new French government places great importance on its relations with China and would like to expand cooperation in all fields based on mutual respect. Jean-Ortiz said France will take an active part in the cooperation under the EU-China framework and boost France-China and EU-China relations to a new high.

State Councilor Dai Bingguo attended the meeting.