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ULAN BATOR, July 15, 2016 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi (R) meets with his French counterpart Jean-Marc Ayrault in Ulan Bator, Mongolia, July 15, 2016. (Xinhua/Pang Xinglei)
ULAN BATOR, July 15 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi on Friday extended condolences to the victims of an overnight attack in the French city of Nice and their families.
"The Chinese people stand in firm solidarity with the French people," Wang said in a meeting with his French counterpart Jean-Marc Ayrault on the sidelines of the ongoing 11th Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM) Summit in Ulan Bator.
Ayrault said that he appreciated Wang's remarks, adding that it fully embodies the high level of friendship between the two countries as well as their resolution to jointly combat terrorism.
In a suspected terror attack, a truck rammed into a crowd marking the national day of France in Nice on Thursday evening, leaving at least 84 people dead. An anti-terror investigation has been launched.
On bilateral ties, Wang said ties between China and France are progressing in a healthy and stable manner, and that China is willing to join hands with the French side to make headway in cooperation in various areas.
The Chinese diplomat said both sides should gear up preparation work for French President Francois Hollande's participation to the G20 summit scheduled in September in Hangzhou, China, and the implementation of the Paris climate change agreement sealed in December last year.
They should also maintain communication over cooperation between China, France and Africa, and push forward the tripartite Hinkley Point nuclear plant project in Britain, Wang said.
Hailing a fruitful China-EU summit, the 18th of its kind, held in Beijing from July 12 to 13, the Chinese foreign minister said China will continue to work to develop Sino-European ties.
Ayrault, meanwhile, also commended smooth collaboration between China and France, and said President Hollande is looking forward to his attendance to the Hangzhou G20 summit.
He said France is willing to keep up high-level exchanges with China, and step up cooperation in climate change.
France supports the tripartite cooperation on the Hinkley Point project, Ayrault said, adding that Paris will endeavor to advance relations between Europe and China.
The two foreign ministers also exchanged views on the Korean Peninsula nuclear issue.
