China, France are devoted friends and win-win partners: Xi

Chinese President Xi Jinping on Monday delivered a speech titled "Building on Past Achievements to Jointly Usher in a New Era in China-France Cooperation" at the closing ceremony of the Sixth Meeting of the China-France Business Council in Paris, France.

The following are some of the highlights of Xi's speech.

- The China-France relationship has always been a pacesetter for the relations between China and Western countries. It shows how countries with different cultures, systems and development levels can help each other succeed and make progress together.

- Our trade has expanded by nearly 800 times since the establishment of diplomatic relations, reaching 78.9 billion U.S. dollars. Cumulative two-way investment has exceeded 26 billion U.S. dollars. More than 2,000 French companies have woven themselves into the fabric of the Chinese market.

- As one of the earliest participants in China's reform and opening up, France has contributed to China's modernization drive and benefited from it. Deeper friendship calls for frequent exchanges and closer cooperation.

- China will continue to make full use of the "French farm to Chinese dining table" whole-chain rapid coordination mechanism, and bring more cheese, ham, wine and other quality agricultural products from France to the dining tables of Chinese families.