| He asked the two countries to provide more support and convenience for bilateral trade and investment. Noting that China has newly approved its foreign investment law, Xi pledged that the country will continue to greatly relax market access, optimize business environment, strengthen intellectual property rights protection, and create a new pattern of high-level opening-up. "We welcome more French businesses to invest and develop in China, and in the meantime, we hope the French side offers fair, open and non-discrimination treatment for Chinese businesses to invest in France," Xi said. On people-to-people and cultural exchanges, Xi called for enhancing both intergovernmental cooperation and non-governmental contacts. The two countries should fully use the China-France high-level people-to-people and cultural exchange mechanism, and promote cooperation in culture, tourism, language, youths and at local level, he said. Xi also asked the two countries to well organize the commemorative activities on the 55th anniversary of China-France diplomatic ties and the 100th anniversary of the Chinese Work-Study Movement in France, and to host a culture and tourism year in each other's country in 2021. Calling China and the European Union (EU) two major forces, markets and civilizations of today's world, Xi said China attaches importance to Europe's strategic status and role, and has always regarded deepening China-EU relations as a diplomatic priority. China supports France in continuing to play a leading role in the process of Europe's uniting for self-improvement, and hopes France exerts a more positive influence in pushing forward China-EU ties, Xi said. The Chinese president also urged both sides to accelerate the negotiations on a China-EU investment treaty, and initiate a joint feasibility study on the China-EU free trade agreement at an early date. | 
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