Broad prospects seen in relations

Xi holds meetings with leaders of France, Bolivia, Argentina, Germany on the sidelines of G20 Summit, highlighting dialogue and cooperation

Editor's note: President Xi Jinping held four bilateral meetings on Tuesday on the sidelines of the G20 Summit in Rio de Janeiro. The following are the highlights of the talks:

France

China and France are independent, mature and responsible major countries, and the relationship between the two nations is of unique strategic significance and global influence, President Xi Jinping said on Tuesday.

Xi made the remarks during a meeting with French President Emmanuel Macron on the sidelines of the 19th G20 Summit in Rio de Janeiro.

Noting that the international situation is undergoing fresh changes, Xi said that it is the shared responsibility of China and France to lead the international community in unity to address global challenges.

He underlined the need for both countries to deepen strategic communication and strengthen mutual support in order to maintain the momentum of the steady and positive development of bilateral relations, and to work together to make a greater contribution to the sound development of China-Europe relations as well as world peace and stability.

China's new round of reform and opening-up will provide new opportunities for the countries' pragmatic cooperation, he said.

Xi expressed the hope that both sides will make good use of high-level economic and financial dialogue and other mechanisms to tap into cooperation potential, address their differences properly and achieve mutual benefit and win-win outcomes.

Macron said that France adheres to strategic autonomy and is willing to engage in dialogue and cooperation with China based on the spirit of mutual respect, properly handle economic and trade disputes, and maintain the healthy and stable development of bilateral economic and trade relations.

France is ready to strengthen cooperation with China in areas such as climate change and global artificial intelligence governance, he said.

The Chinese and French presidents also exchanged views on the Ukraine crisis.

Bolivia

President Xi Jinping told Bolivian President Luis Arce on Tuesday that China is willing to align Belt and Road cooperation with the South American country's 2025 development plan and elevate bilateral ties to new heights, as next year will mark the 40th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations.

Xi made the remarks when meeting with Arce in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

He said that relations between the two countries have maintained good momentum, and the fruitful results from Belt and Road cooperation have brought concrete benefits to their peoples.

China will use the 40th anniversary as an opportunity to work with Bolivia to carry forward traditional friendship, deepen strategic mutual trust and expand mutually beneficial cooperation, he said.

China is Bolivia's second-largest trading partner and its primary source of imports. Last year, bilateral trade reached nearly $2.6 billion, a year-on-year increase of 34.5 percent, statistics showed.

Xi emphasized the need for the two sides to expand cooperation in areas such as infrastructure, plateau agriculture, green development and the digital economy.

He also called on China and Bolivia to deepen coordination within the United Nations and other multilateral institutions to jointly promote solidarity and the common development of Global South countries.

Arce said China's huge achievements in its modernization drive have provided an important reference and guidance for the development of Bolivia and other countries.

Bolivia is willing to work with China to deepen the strategic partnership and strengthen cooperation on infrastructure and connectivity, among other areas, in order to bolster Bolivia's national development and improve people's well-being, Arce added.

The South American country's 2025 plan, a strategic initiative to guide Bolivia's national development, aims to steer the country toward a more prosperous and equitable future.

Argentina

President Xi Jinping said on Tuesday that cooperation between China and Argentina has broad prospects, and China welcomes Argentina to seize the opportunities created by the country's high-level opening-up and further expand its share in the Chinese market.

He made the remarks while meeting with Argentine President Javier Milei in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. It was the first meeting between the two leaders since Milei won the presidential election in November last year.

As this year marks the 10th anniversary of the establishment of the China-Argentina comprehensive strategic partnership, Xi said the relationship between the two countries stands at an important historical juncture, adding that China cherishes the traditional friendship between the two peoples.

He emphasized the need for China and Argentina to promote the long-term and stable development of bilateral ties.

Xi noted that China and Argentina are highly complementary in economic and trade structure. China is Argentina's second-largest trading partner and, last year, the trade volume between the two countries exceeded $17 billion.

Xi said that China is ready to work with Argentina to continuously promote Belt and Road cooperation and deepen ties in areas including energy, mining, infrastructure, agriculture, sci-tech innovation and the digital economy.

He also expressed Beijing's willingness to continue financial cooperation with Buenos Aires to help the Argentine side maintain economic and financial stability.

Milei said that Argentina and China enjoy profound traditional friendship, adding that Argentina firmly supports China's position on the Taiwan question and adheres to the one-China principle.

He said his country is willing to further cooperation with China and welcomes more Chinese enterprises to invest and cooperate in Argentina.

Germany

China and Germany should continue consolidating their all-around strategic partnership "from a long-term and strategic perspective", and further enable each other's success, President Xi Jinping said when meeting on Tuesday with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz on the sidelines of the 19th G20 Summit in Rio de Janeiro.

During the meeting, Xi said that Beijing is willing to work with Berlin to uphold respect for each other's core interests and major concerns, and seek common ground while reserving differences.

China will "continue to provide broad market opportunities for German enterprises", and the two sides should focus on digitalization, intelligence and low-carbonization to upgrade their cooperation and work hand in hand to develop third-party markets, Xi said.

Noting that it is crucial for Germany and China to strengthen communication and cooperation, Scholz said that Germany looks to further strengthen bilateral and multilateral dialogues and cooperation in the spirit of equality, frankness and mutual respect, properly resolve differences, achieve mutual benefits, and contribute to global economic growth.

Regarding China-European Union relations, Xi said the EU's tariff levy on electric vehicles produced in China has sparked worldwide concern. China has always adhered to resolving differences through dialogue and consultation, he said.

Scholz expressed his hope that the EU and China will soon resolve the EV issue through dialogue and negotiation, saying that Germany is willing to take active steps in this regard.