Interview: Former French PM sees great potential for cooperation with China

Chinese Premier Li Keqiang's ongoing Europe tour is of great significance as both the European Union (EU) and China have shared a strong will to further advance bilateral ties, former French Prime Minister Dominique de Villepin said.

"The China-EU relationship is a strategic partnership which is important politically, because China ... plays an important role in the (UN) Security Council and is a key player in the world," de Villepin told Xinhua in an interview Sunday.

China can help Europe solve difficult issues like the Ukraine crisis, he said.

On EU-China economic ties, he said the relationship is important and there is "a lot of complementarity" between French companies and the Chinese economy.

As for people-to-people and cultural exchanges, de Villepin said the EU and China are very active in this field.

"We exchange a very great vitality, a lot of cooperation, a lot of interest from both sides, with a tourism that is growing both in terms of the number of Chinese who come to France and French who come to China," he said.

De Villepin, who "feels an interest in Chinese policy on economic development and has a great fascination for Chinese culture and civilization," has visited China regularly since he stepped down as prime minister.

He said the France-China ties are "very comprehensive" and have contributed to strengthening relations between the EU and the Asian giant.

"We are able to put aside a number of issues that could tarnish our relationship ... The close cooperation between France and China regarding world affairs is effective and will continue to intensify," he said.

Meanwhile, de Villepin called on the two countries to strengthen cooperation between their small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).

"Big companies naturally work together. We must manage to establish more confidence and eliminate a number of barriers in our economies, so that the context of trade can be facilitated and there're more exchanges in SMEs," he said.

He also expressed his view on the "Belt and Road" initiative, a reference to the Silk Road Economic Belt and the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road proposed by Chinese President Xi Jinping.

"I think this is a very important initiative ... based on a real project, a real vision," de Villepin said, adding that the "multi-dimensional" initiative will be conducive to the stability of the Eurasian region in the face of challenges such as terrorism.

"It will also play an important role in stimulating growth in this region .. where many countries have not yet fully developed their resources," he said.

"Multiplying infrastructure, and offering these people new opportunities in building railways, ports and roads, we offer a large number of economies new opportunities for growth," he explained.

In addition, de Villepin said, the initiative has helped create a number of important financial institutions at a multilateral level, including the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank and the Silk Road Fund.

"These multilateral regional institutions are a hope for the global multilateral system, which needs to reform ... I think the competition born with such institutions is good, because it can help bring some new blood, a new vision and a new requirement," he said. Endi