| Macron said since France and China forged diplomatic relations 55 years ago, the two sides have always respected each other, which allowed them to conduct extensive and productive cooperation. Noting that the keynote of France-China comprehensive strategic partnership is cooperation, the French president extended his country's congratulations to the People's Republic of China for its huge achievements since its founding 70 years ago, and said that France is committed to being China's reliable and assured strategic partner, and is willing to join efforts with China to build a balanced, stable, safe and prosperous world. France has full confidence in the future of France-China relations, Macron said, pledging to boost cooperation with China in such fields as aviation, aerospace, nuclear energy, agriculture, finance, scientific research, automobile manufacturing and elderly care, and to align France's Industry of the Future initiative with Made in China 2025. France stands ready to actively participate in the second Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation and the second China International Import Expo (CIIE), Macron said, adding that his country supports vigorously promoting bilateral exchanges and cooperation in education, culture, sports, tourism, military and defense affairs. Speaking highly of China's important leading role in tackling climate change and multilateral affairs such as peacekeeping, Macron stressed that France deems protectionism unacceptable. France and China have a lot of common ground in international affairs and have maintained close communication and coordination, he said. France and China, as well as the EU and China, can work together in advancing more global agenda, improving global governance system, and protecting multilateralism and free trade, he added. The French president also pledged to actively push forward the EU-China cooperative relations, saying his country holds that the EU's connectivity strategy and the BRI should be docked with each other. After their talks, the two leaders witnessed the exchange of bilateral cooperation documents including third-party markets cooperation, and met the press together. Macron held a grand welcome ceremony for Xi at the Arc de Triomphe before the talks. Xi arrived in Paris from the southern French city of Nice on Monday to continue his trip to the country. Two French fighter jets escorted Xi's plane as it flew from Nice to Paris. It is the second state visit by Xi to the European country in five years. France is the final stop of Xi's three-nation Europe tour, which has already taken him to Italy and Monaco. | 
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