European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker, President Xi Jinping, French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Angela Merkel meet at the Elysee Palace in Paris on Tuesday. [Photo/Agencies]

Leaders of China, Europe discuss multilateralism at meeting in Paris

President Xi Jinping called on Tuesday for joint efforts with European countries to promote innovation-driven growth, build an open economy and pursue balanced development so that people of all countries can benefit from the fruits of economic globalization.

Xi made the remark at the closing ceremony of the Global Governance Forum with French President Emmanuel Macron, German Chancellor Angela Merkel and European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker in Paris.

Xi said that the four leaders had deep discussions on issues such as maintaining multilateralism and developing China-Europe relations, and that they reached important consensuses in talks that lasted more than an hour.

Xi warned that an anti-globalization trend is rising, with more challenges of protectionism being seen.

He said that China will continue to uphold its reform and opening-up policy because the policy has brought huge progress for China over the past four decades, and China will expand its opening-up in line with the needs of the times.

The Belt and Road Initiative has become an important driving force for the common growth of the global economy, Xi said, adding that China welcomes all countries, including France, to proactively take part in building the Belt and Road.

All countries should uphold multilateralism and make full use of multilateral frameworks, including the World Trade Organization, the World Bank and the G20, Xi said.

Countries should also boost strategic mutual trust through candid and in-depth communication, and strengthen dialogue between different civilizations, Xi said.

China and France should enhance cooperation in traditional areas including nuclear energy, aviation, aerospace, agriculture, medicine and automobiles, and speed up cooperating in new areas such as artificial intelligence, Xi added.

Macron appreciated China's support of the Paris deal on climate change and cutting carbon emissions.

The BRI has great significance and can promote peace, development and stability of the world, and France would like to enhance cooperation with China in such areas as infrastructure to boost interconnectivity, Macron said.

Merkel said that in the talks, all four leaders expressed a willingness to make contributions to the reform of the multilateral system. The BRI is very important, as countries rely on each other's development, she said.

Juncker said that the BRI will not pose a threat to the European Union, EU countries should explain this to their citizens, and the EU should participate more in the building of the Belt and Road.