Paris and Beijing join to enhance ties in nuclear energy

Chinese Premier Li Keqiang(R) talks with French Foreign Affairs and International Development Minister Laurent Fabius during a meeting at Diaoyutai State Guesthouse in downtown Beijing, May 19, 2014. [Photo by Xu Jingxing/China Daily]

Beijing will join hands with Paris to explore third-party nuclear energy markets, Premier Li Keqiang told the French foreign minister on Monday.

Li made the remarks when meeting French Foreign Affairs and International Development Minister Laurent Fabius at Diaoyutai State Guesthouse in downtown Beijing.

Fabius was on a working visit to China from May 16 to 19, as a guest of his Chinese counterpart Wang Yi.

It has been only three months since Fabius' last visit to China. Analysts said the two countries are trying to enhance relations this year, which marks the 50th anniversary of the establishment of their diplomatic ties.

President Xi Jinping visited France in March. During the trip, deals worth 18 billion euros ($24.8 billion) were signed, including cooperation between the China General Nuclear Power Corporation and its French partner to build a nuclear energy project in Britain.

"China would like to keep moving forward with France in the spirit of our diplomatic ties," Li said, describing the spirit as "independent, visionary and mutually beneficial".

France was among the first batch of western countries to set up diplomatic ties with the People's Republic of China.

Li expected bilateral ties to help push forward China's ties with Europe, multilateral cooperation with Africa as well as efforts to handle global challenges.

He also asked Paris to take "a more open attitude" in technology cooperation with China.