Mutual respect and benefit, responsibility crucial for today's world: Chinese Ambassador to France

PARIS - Chinese Ambassador to France Zhai Jun said here on Tuesday that mutual respect, mutual benefit and responsibility, the three essential elements embodied in the Sino-France relations, are of great significance for today's world.

He made the remarks in a speech at a reception celebrating the 55th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties between China and France.

Looking back to the 1960s when the world was shrouded in the cold war, Zhai said, it is based on mutual respect that China and France were able to overcome the huge differences in geography, national conditions and systems and come together bravely.

"The development of China-France relations has proved to the world that 'self-reliance' and 'respect for others' are not contradictory. Only when we put aside prejudices and disputes, respect each other, and seek common ground while shelving differences," can countries be more confident, and the world be more peaceful, he noted.

France is the first western country that participated and benefited from China's reform and opening up. The ambassador listed cases of China-France cooperation, saying China hopes to advance traditional strategic cooperation with France in nuclear energy, aviation and aerospace in the spirit of mutual benefit and win-win progress, and strengthen ties in emerging areas of agricultural integration, digitalization, medicine and health, green development and artificial intelligence.

"We also hope that through the Belt and Road initiative, China and France can accelerate cooperation in the third-party market, share development opportunities in the new era and build a community of shared future for mankind for mankind," he added.

Both China and France are countries with important international influence and responsibility. Emphasizing the efforts by the two countries in advancing the Paris agreement on climate change in 2015, Zhai said: "While some countries withdrew from the agreement and got the international community worrying, China and France have strengthened their commitment to tackling climate change."

In October last year, the China-France Oceanography Satellite was launched into space, marking the official launch of the China-France Year of the Environment. "The all-round bilateral cooperation is an important attempt by mankind to explore a path of sustainable development and has injected positive energy into global governance cooperation," said the ambassador.

At a time when multilateralism is being challenged, the international community is facing crucial choices. "History has proven that China and France, when joining hands together, can change the world. Today's world needs a strong and ambitious Sino-France relationship," he noted.