In a fresh round of strategic dialogue, China and France have agreed to boost their bilateral ties and enhance cooperation in regional and international affairs. 

The dialogue in the French capital was between Chinese State Councillor Yang Jiechi and Diplomatic Advisor to the French President, Jacques Audibert. The two sides agreed to deepen nuclear collaboration, upgrade their cooperation in aerospace, and expand trade and mutual investments. Audibert said that France has full confidence in China’s economy and expects its 13th Five-Year Plan to bring new economic opportunities. 

Meanwhile, Yang made a keynote speech at the French Institute for International Relations in Paris. The theme of the speech was how China’s development and China-Europe Cooperation can provide positive energy for the world. Yang elaborated on China’s foreign policy, its economy, and its relationship with Europe.

Yang said the Chinese economy’s growth rate still stands ahead of most of the world’s major economies, and will contribute 30 percent to the world’s economic growth before 2020. 

Yang also said China will continuously facilitate the pragmatic cooperation between China and the EU, realizing the integration of the “One Belt, One Road” initiative with Europe’s development strategy.