Exchanges

China， UN Agree on Further Cooperation

Chinese President Xi Jinping called for further cooperation with the United Nations when he met with visiting UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on July 7， 2016.

Xi applauded Bans efforts and contributions to safeguarding world peace， promoting sustainable development， dealing with climate change， and enhancing cooperation between the UN and China over the past decade. He said China would continue to be a firm UN supporter， vindicator and participant， and underlined the importance of adhering to the purposes and principles of the UN Charter， while also advocating the role of global governance featuring mutual consultation， joint efforts and problem sharing.

Ban extended his condolences for the death of a Chinese peacekeeper in an attack on the UN Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in Mali， and thanked China for participation in UN peacekeeping missions. He also expressed his appreciation of Chinas efforts to resolve the nuclear issue on the Korean Peninsula while acting as the chair of the six-party talks. The UN， he added， would be willing to enhance cooperation with the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank to boost infrastructure construction in developing countries.

China and Congo Uplift Bilateral Relations

President Xi Jinping held talks with visiting President Denis Sassou-Nguesso of the Republic of Congo on July 5， 2016. Both heads of state decided to uplift their current bilateral relationship to a comprehensive strategic partnership of cooperation and agreed to take the implementation of outcomes of the Johannesburg Summit at the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation as an opportunity to comprehensively deepen and expand friendly and mutually beneficial cooperation in various fields， so as to better benefit the two peoples.

Xi pointed out that the two sides should continuously plan and develop bilateral relations from a strategic and long-term perspective. Both should promote win-win cooperation and strive always to be good partners enjoying common development. China and Congo should advance people-to-people and cultural exchanges， and always view each other as sincere good friends. The two countries need to strengthen international coordination and cooperation， so as to protect their common interest.

Denis Sassou-Nguesso said both countries have yielded remarkable results over several years from their cooperation in infrastructure， telecommunications， hydropower， health care and other areas. He said that the Republic of Congo and other African countries appreciate Chinas positive role in the international community， especially in African affairs. The Republic of Congo is willing to take the establishment of a bilateral comprehensive strategic partnership of cooperation as an opportunity to further promote bilateral cooperation as well as Africa-China cooperation on a more general level. The Republic of Congo hopes to enhance bilateral cooperation in areas including the construction of a special economic zone， production capacity building， trade， people-to-people， and cultural exchanges， and welcomes Chinese enterprises to increase their investment in the country.

China， Greece to Deepen Cooperation

Chinese Premier Li Keqiang held talks with visiting Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras in Beijing on July 4， 2016.

Li pointed out that so far， Greece has completed approval procedures for the franchising agreement of the Piraeus Port Authority project between China and Greece， laying a solid foundation for the advancement of bilateral cooperation. China is willing to make joint efforts with Greece to build Piraeus Port into a top-level port and logistics center in the Mediterranean Sea， and make it a major gateway on the China-Europe Land-Sea Express Route as well as for Asia-Europe connectivity， so that the two peoples can practically benefit from bilateral cooperation.

Li stressed that China paid great attention to the changing European situations. “We firmly support the integration of Europe and have always believed that a prosperous and stable European Union （EU） is in the interests of all sides，” he said. “China welcomes Greeces continuing to play a positive role in the development of China-EU relations，” he added.

Alexis Tsipras noted that the Piraeus Port project represents an important strategic cooperation between the two countries. The Greek side will make joint efforts with China to build it into a gateway for Chinese investment and goods to enter Europe， construct supporting logistics centers and industrial technology zones， promote the upgrading of railways in Central and Eastern Europe， and vigorously advance economic and trade cooperation between the two countries， as well as between the EU and China.

Deepen China-France Innovation Cooperation

Chinese Vice Premier Liu Yandong delivered a speech entitled“Deepen China-France Innovation Cooperation and Promote Civilization Exchanges and Mutual Learning” at LInstitut de France on June 30， 2016.

Liu expressed her view that the pioneering spirit is inherited in the cultural genes of both the great nations of China and France. Under joint efforts， China and France have created many “firsts” in the world， showcasing the courage of the two great nations and expanding the broader prospect of the China-France relationship. Since the initiation of the China-France High-level People-to-People and Cultural Exchange Mechanism， people-to-people and cultural exchanges between the two countries have expanded and deepened unprecedentedly.

Liu Yandong proposed a four-point initiative for advancing the bilateral cultural cooperation. Firstly， a high-level think-tank communication mechanism should be established； secondly， a joint platform for development and research should be forged； projects on jointly cultivating talents should be advanced； and finally forms of crosscultural communication should be enriched. It is hoped that LInstitut de France would further give play to its academic advantage and play a leading role in promoting cultural exchanges and mutual learning and upgrading people-to-people and cultural exchanges between the two countries.