China is willing to collaborate with France and other nations to expand cooperation and share development opportunities, Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Qin Gang said on Wednesday.

The French foreign minister requested that her Chinese counterpart conveys to Russia that "it is at a standstill" in Ukraine.

France Insists on China's Role in Russia-Ukraine War

Before she met the Chinese Foreign Minister, the French Minister of Foreign Minister, Catherine Colonna, urged China to utilize "its relations with Russia" to convey to the Kremlin that "it has reached an impasse" in Ukraine.

There was much discussion before the highly anticipated meeting of senior European envoys with their visiting Chinese counterparts, who will travel to Germany, France, and Norway.

There have been numerous appeals, particularly from France, for China to play a role as a mediator in "global peace and stability."

The Chinese ambassador to France, Lu Shaye, stated on April 23 that former Soviet Union states were not sovereign. Even though China's foreign ministry retracted the statement, there are still questions regarding impartiality, i24 News reported.

The latest visit to Europe follows a phone call between Chinese President Xi Jinping and his Ukrainian counterpart, Volodymyr Zelensky. Xi Jinping emphasized that he has "always been on the side of peace" and advocated for "dialogue."

Qin hailed the state visit of French President Emmanuel Macron to China as a great success and stated that China is willing to work with France to implement the important consensus reached by the two leaders, accelerate exchanges and cooperation in various fields, and advance the close and enduring comprehensive strategic partnership between China and France.

The two countries should maintain close, high-level exchanges, expand communications at all levels, and explore new areas of cooperation, he said, adding that they should also further open their markets to one another, construct a more resilient China-France supply chain, deepen their cooperation in international affairs, and face global challenges together.

Qin stated that China has always viewed Europe as a comprehensive strategic partner and has always unequivocally supported the continent's efforts to strengthen its strategic autonomy and play an active role on the international stage, emphasizing that China favors a China-Europe relationship that is not aimed at, subordinated to, or controlled by a third party.

He added that China, France, and China and Europe should pursue win-win cooperation through greater mutual opening up and construct a China-EU supply chain partnership with increased stability and mutual trust.

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France-China Relationship

Colonna stated that during President Macron's successful visit to China, he engaged in an in-depth dialogue with President Xi Jinping and gained a deeper understanding of China.

Noting that France-China relations are of utmost importance, she stated that the two chiefs of state had established a clear direction and that both parties should collaborate to advance the bilateral relationship's growth.

She proposed that the two sides fully restart cooperation mechanisms in various fields and strengthen cooperation in areas such as climate change, biodiversity, and energy transition, adding that France attaches great importance to its economic relations with China and views them as interdependent, mutually beneficial, complementary, open, and transparent.

Colonna emphasized that France does not engage in belligerent confrontation and believes that all nations should live in harmony and pursue joint development, noting that China plays a significant role in maintaining world peace and stability.

According to China Daily, Colonna stated that France was prepared to strengthen communication with China on key international and regional issues such as Ukraine to "discover more common ground."

Qin also reaffirmed China's stance on pursuing a political resolution to the Ukraine conflict, stating that Beijing would continue communicating with all parties and play a constructive role.

Per SCMP, Qin and Colonna last met in April in Beijing during French President Emmanuel Macron's visit to China with European Commission Chairwoman Ursula von der Leyen.

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