Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi (R) shakes hands with his French counterpart Jean-Yves Le Drian during their meeting in New York, the United States, on Sept. 19, 2017. (Xinhua)
NEW YORK, Sept. 20 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi on Tuesday met with his French counterpart Jean-Yves Le Drian with the two sides pledging to step up cooperation on global hot-spot issues, climate change, among others.
Wang said the China-France comprehensive strategic partnership has maintained momentum after the inauguration of President Emmanuel Macron. China is willing to deepen cooperation with France in an all-round manner, he said.
China appreciates France's participation in the Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation in Beijing in May, and hopes that France can make even greater contributions to the Belt and Road Initiative, said Wang.
China appreciates France's independent foreign policy of self-reliance and treasures the tradition of China-France cooperation in international affairs, he said.
China is willing to work with France in safeguarding the purposes and principles of the UN Charter, in promoting the peaceful settlement of disputes, in safeguarding an open global economy and in opposing protectionism in various forms, he added.
China is willing to work with France in the fight against climate change and in promoting the implementation of the Paris Agreement on climate change, said Wang.
Le Drian agreed with Wang's evaluation of the status quo of bilateral relations and his proposal for cooperation. He said France is willing to work with China on the planning of the upcoming high-level contacts between the two countries, and on promoting major cooperation projects in order to deepen their strategic partnership.
France and China, both permanent members of the UN Security Council, should strengthen multilateral cooperation and promote the leading role of the Security Council in settling international hot spot issues, he said.
France appreciates China's contributions to the formulation of the Paris Agreement and is willing to work with China to push for more efforts of the international community against climate change, Le Drian said.
France is initiating a world environment convention, and is expecting China's participation, he said.
On the situation on the Korean Peninsula, Wang said China is firmly opposed to the nuclear and missile programs of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK), and is determined to push for de-nuclearization of the Korean Peninsula.
China stands for a peaceful settlement of the issue and sticks to the international non-proliferation regime, said Wang.
China has always been fully and comprehensively implementing relevant UN Security Council resolutions concerning the DPRK and has honored its international obligations, he said.
Accusations that China is not playing its due role are groundless and threats to impose unilateral sanctions on China under this pretext are unjustified, Wang added.
Le Drian said France is concerned about the escalating tension on the Korean Peninsula, and believes that military means is not an option.
The purpose of sanctions is for negotiations, he said, adding only through dialogue and consultations and by diplomatic means can the nuclear issue of the Korean Peninsula be ultimately solved.
France will work to push the international community for the full implementation of the resolutions concerning the DPRK, said Le Drian.
France is willing to maintain communication with China on the issue, he said.
