Beijing April 24th—Zhao Shitong, Assistant-minister of the International Department of the CPC Central Committee, met here today on the afternoon with Frédéric Mondoloni, Director General of Political and Security Affairs at the French Foreign Ministry. Bertrand Lortholary, French Ambassador to China, was present.  

Zhao said, this year marks the 60th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and France. Since the establishment of diplomatic relations, China and France have maintained good exchanges and cooperation in various fields, becoming a model of peaceful coexistence, mutual benefit and win-win cooperation between countries with different systems, civilizations and development stages. The Chinese side is willing to work with the French side to take the consensus of the two heads of state as guidance, push China-France comprehensive strategic partnership to a new level, and inject more stability into the world full of changes and chaos.  

Mondoloni said, the French side hopes to take the 60th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between France and China as an opportunity to intensify high-level exchanges between the two sides, deepen cooperation in economy, trade, and culture, etc., enhance coordination and cooperation in international affairs, and jointly play a role in responding to global challenges.  

The two sides also exchanged views on promoting the resolution of international and regional hotspot issues.