Xi ready to 'break new ground' with France after India inks big defence deals with Macron

Chinese President Xi Jinping offers to strengthen China-France ties, emphasizing peace, prosperity, and cooperation in various sectors.

Chinese President Xi Jinping has offered to "break new ground" to give a fillip to the China-France ties, days after French President Emmanuel Macron's high-profile visit to India during which the two countries unveiled an ambitious defence roadmap besides intensifying cooperation in the strategic Indian Ocean and the Indo-Pacific region.

Mr. Macron’s visit to India also coincided with the 60th anniversary of diplomatic relations between China and France.

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In his message on the occasion, Mr. Xi said “As today's world is once again at a critical crossroads, China and France should jointly open up a path of peace, security, prosperity and progress for human development.”

Mr. Xi said China attaches great importance to the development of bilateral ties and he stands ready to work with Mr. Macron to take the 60th anniversary of diplomatic relations as an "opportunity to uphold fundamental principles, break new ground, build on past achievements, open up a new future, and make China-France comprehensive strategic partnership more solid and dynamic," the official media reported.

China has offered to step up French imports to the country, Foreign Minister Wang Yi said.

“We will continue to unleash consumer and investment market demand, continue to expand the import of high-quality products and services from France”, he said and hoped that France too will provide Chinese companies with a fair, just and predictable business environment.