Chinese premier pledges new progress for relations with France

BEIJING, Sept. 3 -- Chinese Premier Li Keqiang said Thursday that China is willing to push forward its relations with France for new progress based on the current sound level.

Li made the remarks during a meeting with French Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius, who attended commemorations here to mark the 70th anniversary of the victory of the Chinese People's War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War.

Li recalled his recent visit to France, when he reached broad consensus with French leaders on further developing bilateral relations and boosting cooperation in such fields as civil nuclear energy, aviation and finance.

The two sides also agreed to push for positive results from the upcoming Paris Climate Summit later this year, he said, adding that China is ready to work with France to implement the consensus.

The premier described cooperation in third-party markets as a pioneering and innovative move for deepening China-France pragmatic cooperation in the new era.

He expressed his hope that the two sides would strengthen coordination for early substantial results, so as to build cooperation in third-party markets as a model for South-North Cooperation and the recovery of the world economy.

Fabius said that since Li's visit to France, the two countries have been cooperating well in coping with climate change, nuclear energy and third-party markets.

France is willing to conduct close communication and coordination with China to actively implement their consensus and achievements for greater progress in related cooperation, he said.