On the 9th, Chinese Vice President Han Zheng met with French President Macron during his attendance at the United Nations Ocean Conference.
Xinhua News Agency reported that Han Zheng conveyed President Xi Jinping's greetings to President Macron, saying that President Xi Jinping had a phone call with the President last month, and had in-depth exchanges and reached important consensus on issues of common concern to both sides, such as strengthening China-France solidarity and cooperation, maintaining multilateralism, and promoting world peace and stability. My visit to France to attend the United Nations Ocean Conference is to implement the important consensus of the two heads of state, reflect support for the United Nations and France in hosting the conference, and promote the implementation of the United Nations 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. China supports France in adhering to strategic autonomy and is willing to strengthen bilateral and multilateral strategic communication and cooperation with France to inject new impetus into the development of China-France relations. This year marks the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and the EU. Under the current complex international situation, strengthening cooperation between China and the EU is good for both sides and the world. China is willing to further expand cooperation areas with the EU and promote new development in China-EU relations.
Macron thanked Han Zheng for attending the United Nations Ocean Conference and asked Han Zheng to convey his good wishes to President Xi Jinping. Macron said that France regards China as a long-term and reliable partner. The current international situation is full of challenges and difficulties. As two major countries, France and China have close high-level exchanges and strengthened communication and cooperation, which is crucial to maintaining world peace and security. France welcomes Chinese companies to invest and start businesses in France. It is willing to strengthen bilateral economic and trade cooperation with China, strengthen communication and coordination on international economic and financial policies, work together to address global challenges such as climate change and biodiversity protection, safeguard multilateralism, and be two major constructive forces in a turbulent world to add more certainty to the world.
The day before, Han Zheng also met with UN Secretary-General Guterres.
According to China News Service, Han Zheng said that the current international situation is intertwined with changes and chaos. China has always supported the United Nations in playing a core role in international affairs. President Xi Jinping appointed me to lead a delegation to attend the UN Ocean Conference to demonstrate China's firm support for multilateralism, the implementation of the UN 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, and especially the work of the United Nations. China is willing to take this year's 80th anniversary of the founding of the United Nations as an opportunity to further strengthen cooperation with the United Nations, practice true multilateralism, and make new contributions to the cause of world peace and development.
Guterres said that the world is currently facing severe challenges. China has long given firm and strong support to the UN cause. It is an important pillar for defending multilateralism and promoting sustainable development in the world, and a key partner of the UN. The UN is willing to further deepen cooperation with China in an all-round way, defend multilateralism and the international order, maintain world peace and security, better respond to challenges such as protecting marine biodiversity and climate change, and achieve the UN 2030 Sustainable Development Goals.
Han Zheng said that China appreciates the UN's consistent adherence to the one-China principle and hopes that relevant UN agencies will remain vigilant against attempts by individual forces to distort and challenge UN General Assembly Resolution 2758. Guterres said that the UN's position on the one-China issue is clear and firm, and it will continue to firmly abide by UN General Assembly Resolution 2758 on this major principle.
