Chinese President Xi Jinping held talks with French President Emmanuel Macron in Beijing on April 6.

Xi welcomed President Macron's state visit to China after a lapse of over three years, saying that over the past three years and more, despite a changing and unstable international landscape, China and France have worked together to maintain a positive and sound growth momentum in their bilateral ties.

He said the two sides have maintained high-frequency and high-quality strategic communication in a hybrid format, supported each other in the fight against COVID-19, and seen robust growth in bilateral trade and important outcomes from cooperation in aerospace, aviation, agriculture, food and other areas.

The two countries have also carried out close communication and coordination on such issues as climate change, biodiversity, and Africa's development, Xi added.

Noting that the world today is undergoing profound historic transformation, Xi said China and France are permanent members of the UN Security Council and major countries with a tradition of independence.

"China and France are firm advocates for a multi-polar world and for greater democracy in international relations. They have the ability and responsibility to rise above differences and obstacles, keep to the overall direction of a comprehensive strategic partnership that is stable, mutually beneficial, enterprising and dynamic, and practice true multilateralism for global peace, stability and prosperity," he said.

Noting that President Macron's visit to China is the first by a European head of state after the full resumption of China's exchanges with the world and the successful conclusion of China's "two sessions," Xi said the visit will inject new momentum and bring new vitality to China-Europe relations.