Chinese vice premier meets French president on bilateral ties

Visiting Chinese Vice Premier Liu Yandong met with French President Francois Hollande here on Thursday on bilateral ties.

Liu met with Hollande in his presidential palace the Elysee after the third meeting of China-France High-level Mechanism for Dialogue on People-to-People Exchanges held Thursday in Paris.

The Chinese vice premier said Sino-French relations has developed steadily in recent years under the guidance of Chinese President Xi Jinping and French President Francois Hollande, and has become outstanding for its strategical, global and up-to-date perspectives.

The Sino-French relations has always been a priority for China's diplomacy. The Chinese side is willing to maintain the frequent high-level exchanges, further expand consensus and increase mutual understanding, and actively develop strategic docking, in order to promote the development of Sino-French relations.

Liu said she and French Foreign Minister Jean-Marc Ayrault are both satisfied with the positive development of the China-France High-level Mechanism for Dialogue on People-to-People Exchanges and its achievements, and reache broad consensus to further deepen China-France people-to-people exchanges.

The Chinese side is willing to work with the French side to plan and promote the people-to-people exchanges between the two countries from a strategic level and a long term perspective, enhance practical bilateral cooperation in various fields, and lay more solid civil and social foundations for the development of Sino-French relations, Liu added.

Hollande said he is happy to see the positive development of the mechanism which he and Chinese President Xi Jinping jointly decided to establish two years ago.

He hopes the two sides will continue to enhance cooperation in people-to-people exchanges, and further promote exchanges in various fields, including culture, education and sports, in the interest of the two peoples.

France, with its rich experience in organizing international sports events, is willing to support and participate in the organization of the 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing, he said.

He added he looks forwards to going to China in September to participate in the G20 Summit to be held in Hangzhou.

On Thursday, Liu also delivered a speech at the most prestigious French academic institution Institut de France. Endit