On the morning of November 24, 2023, Premier Li Qiang of the State Council met with French Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs Catherine Colonna at the Great Hall of the People.

Li Qiang said that since the beginning of this year, under the strategic guidance of President Xi Jinping and President Emmanuel Macron, the relationship between China and France has enjoyed stable and sound development, injecting certainty and positive energy into the world with its own stability. China stands ready to work with France to follow through on the important common understandings reached by the two heads of state and take the 60th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and France next year as an opportunity to build on the past achievements and open up a new future, and build more stable and vibrant China-France relations, so as to better promote prosperity and development of the two countries and the world at large.

Li Qiang pointed out that since the establishment of diplomatic relations, China and France have always respected each other and treated each other as equals, which is a precious asset in bilateral relations. Looking into the future, the two sides should uphold mutual respect and mutual trust, work together for mutual benefit and win-win results, stand together through thick and thin, continue to strengthen high-level exchanges, keep accommodating each other's core interests and major concerns, and continue to implement the comprehensive strategic partnership. China will continue to advance high-standard opening up and deepen mutually beneficial cooperation between the two sides. Li Qiang expressed the hope that France will provide a fair, just and non-discriminatory market environment for Chinese enterprises to invest and operate in France, and, at the same time, actively promote the EU side to adhere to the spirit of market openness and free trade. In the face of increasingly mounting global challenges, China is ready to work closely with France to jointly address such pressing issues as climate change and biodiversity conservation, actively implement the Global Development Initiative, the Global Security Initiative and the Global Civilization Initiative, and jointly promote the building of a community with a shared future for mankind.

Catherine Colonna said, France and China are both permanent members of the UN Security Council and shoulder the common responsibility of safeguarding world peace and development. The French side is willing to work with the Chinese side to take the opportunity of celebrating the 60th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between France and China to intensify high-level exchanges, strengthen political mutual trust, and further deepen exchanges and cooperation in economy and trade as well as people-to-people and cultural exchanges, among others. France is willing to keep the market open, and jointly deal with global challenges such as climate change and biodiversity conservation to play the role of major countries in safeguarding world peace and promoting common development.