On the evening of June 21, 2023 local time, Premier Li Qiang of the State Council attended and addressed the dinner banquet of the Chinese and French business communities in Paris. Minister of Economy, Finance, and Industrial and Digital Sovereignty Bruno Le Maire and more than 100 representatives from the business communities of the two countries were present.

Li Qiang said that over the past 60-plus years since the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and France, bilateral relations have maintained positive development momentum and achieved remarkable cooperation results. The China-France relationship is marked by being stable, abreast of the times and having global commitments. Both countries stand for unity instead of division, and cooperation instead of confrontation. Both countries are committed to upholding multilateralism, promoting the improvement of global governance and working together to meet the common challenges of mankind. It is therefore important for the two sides to cherish and take good care of the relationship.

Li Qiang put forward a three-point proposal on deepening China-France cooperation. First, jointly maintain the security and stability of global industrial and supply chains. Interdependence is an inevitable result of economic globalization. The sound political mutual trust between China and France enables the two sides to see stability, certainty and common development opportunities in their interdependence, rather than risks. China commends the French government for its opposition to bloc confrontation, decoupling, and cutting off industrial and supply chains. The Chinese side hopes that Chinese and French entrepreneurs will firmly support economic globalization, take real actions for openness, mutual benefit and practical cooperation, and work together to maintain the stability and resilience of China-France and China-Europe industrial and supply chains. Second, strengthen innovation cooperation between China and France. In recent years, China and France have produced many innovative achievements in technological exchanges in medicine, new energy batteries, semiconductors and other fields. Looking ahead, the two sides still have great potential for cooperation in such areas as high-end manufacturing, modern services, green transition and digital economy. The two sides should strengthen cooperation in innovation and technology between their enterprises to provide new momentum and foster new growth points for China-France cooperation. Third, foster a sound business environment. China will unswervingly deepen reform and expand opening up, further broaden market access in modern services and other sectors, steadily expand institutional opening up that covers rules, regulations, management and standards, step up intellectual property rights protection, foster a market-oriented, world-class business environment governed by a sound legal framework, and safeguard the legitimate rights and interests of foreign companies in China in accordance with the law. China hopes that the French side will keep its market open and provide a fair, equitable and non-discriminatory business environment for Chinese companies. French enterprises are welcome to continue to actively participate in the China International Import Expo, and to further explore the Chinese market.

Li Qiang encouraged Chinese and French entrepreneurs to bolster confidence, seize opportunities, and work jointly for greater development of their businesses by deepening trade and economic cooperation, so as to promote steady and sustained cooperation between China and France and between China and Europe.

Bruno Le Maire said in his speech that France-China relations enjoy sound momentum of development and have achieved fruitful results. French companies remain attracted by China and look forward to deepening cooperation in aviation, food, renewable energy and other areas, to build a high-quality partnership and achieve win-win cooperation.

Wu Zhenglong, among others, attended the dinner banquet.