Editor's note: President Xi Jinping held a number of bilateral meetings on Tuesday with world leaders on the sidelines of the G20 Summit in Bali, Indonesia. The following are highlights of the face-to-face talks:
France
During his meeting with French President Emmanuel Macron, President Xi Jinping said the two leaders had maintained close communication in a number of ways, keeping the positive momentum in China-France relations and enabling important bilateral cooperation to make good progress.
Noting the world has entered a new period of turbulence and change, Xi said that as two major forces in a multipolar world, China and France, as well as China and Europe, should uphold the spirit of independence, openness and cooperation, promote the steady and sustained development of their bilateral relations on the right track, and inject stability and positive energy into the world.
Xi underscored that China, in its efforts to unswervingly pursue high-level opening-up and move forward on the Chinese path to modernization, will provide new opportunities to various countries, including France.
The two sides should bolster top-level planning with an eye to the future, respect each other's core interests and major concerns and deepen pragmatic cooperation, he said.
He highlighted the need to keep working toward progress in traditional sectors and actively tapping into the potential for cooperation in green energy and innovation in science and technology. Beijing hopes Paris can offer a fair, just and nondiscriminatory business environment for Chinese companies, Xi added.
China and Europe have now formed a robust economic coexistence, and the two sides should expand two-way trade and investment, ensure stable and unimpeded global industrial and supply chains, and uphold the rules and order in global trade and the economy, he said.
Xi expressed hope that Paris can push the European Union to continue following an independent and positive China policy.
China stands ready to work with France to ensure the G20 Bali Summit is a success, bolster communication and coordination in responding to climate change and biodiversity protection, uphold true multilateralism, respond to global challenges such as food and energy security, and solve the difficult issues involved in sustainable development, he said.
Macron offered his congratulations to Xi on his reelection as general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee.
France upholds independence in diplomacy, opposes bloc confrontation and hopes to continue adhering to a spirit of mutual respect, equality and mutual benefit, he said. It also hopes to conduct closer high-level exchanges and deepen cooperation on the economy, trade, aviation and civilian nuclear energy, Macron added.
The two leaders also exchanged views on the Ukraine issue. Xi reiterated Beijing's position of advocating a cease-fire, putting an end to the conflict and beginning peace talks. He said that the international community should work toward these outcomes and China will continue playing constructive roles in its own way.
South Africa
Xi said that China and South Africa enjoy a special friendship featuring comrade ship and brotherhood as he met with South African President Cyril Ramaphosa.
Both countries are important major developing countries and they resolutely uphold international fairness and justice as well as the shared interests of developing countries, Xi said.
China always views its relations with South Africa from a strategic perspective, and stands ready to consolidate political mutual trust with South Africa and jointly push for greater development of the comprehensive strategic partnership between them, he said.
He stressed that the 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China, which was held in October, had made it a central task to build a modern socialist country in all respects and advance national rejuvenation through the Chinese path to modernization.
Xi added he is confident that China's development will bring about greater opportunities to countries from around the world, including South Africa.
He said that China is willing to strengthen exchanges with South Africa about governance experiences and supports South Africa in exploring a path toward modernization suited to its national conditions.
He called for strengthening synergies between China's Belt and Road Initiative and the South African Economic Reconstruction and Recovery Plan, deepening bilateral cooperation in trade, investment and energy, and pushing for the achievements under the framework of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation to be translated into concrete benefit in South Africa.
China supports Chinese companies investing and doing business in South Africa and is willing to increase imports of good-quality products from South Africa, Xi said.
Noting that China supports South Africa's assuming the rotating presidency of BRICS, the grouping of Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa, Xi expressed China's willingness to work with South Africa to intensify unity and cooperation between China and Africa, develop closer coordination in international affairs, and jointly cope with global challenges regarding climate change, food security and energy security.
Ramaphosa congratulated Xi again on his reelection as general secretary of the CPC Central Committee as well as the success of the 20th CPC National Congress and China's great development accomplishments.
Ramaphosa thanked China for its assistance to African countries, including South Africa, in fighting the COVID-19 pandemic and its aid to African countries in relieving their debt crisis.
Calling China an important strategic partner of South Africa, Ramaphosa said his country will continue to adhere to the one-China principle.
South Africa stands ready to learn from China's experiences in green development and energy transformation, actively participate in the joint building of the Belt and Road, and open its door wider to Chinese companies for investment and cooperation, he said.
Senegal
China is willing to join hands with Senegal on its path toward development and prosperity and offer mutual support on issues regarding each other's sovereignty, security and development interests, Xi said while meeting with Senegalese President Macky Sall.
Beijing stands ready to further its support for Senegal's construction of infrastructure such as motorways and industrial parks, he said.
China is also ready to increase its imports of Senegal's agricultural products and step up cooperation on peanut and rice production, he added.
The two countries share consensuses on a number of major issues, such as championing world peace and promoting common development, Xi said, adding that China supports the initiative of the African Union joining the G20.
The Senegalese president offered his congratulations to Xi on his reelection as general secretary of the CPC Central Committee.
Sall said the CPC is a great party with a glorious history, and China is a great country sticking to its principles and enjoying widespread respect. The country is also a faithful and reliable friend of African nations, Sall added.
China has always been on the side of African countries in areas ranging from agriculture and water resources to infrastructure, education and health, including the united fight against the COVID-19 pandemic, he noted.
Sall expressed his appreciation for the precious help China offers to Senegal and other African countries, and he thanked China for being the first to publicly support the African Union joining the G20.
African countries' staunch support for China on issues related to the Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region illustrates the high quality of mutual trust and the high level of relations between Africa and China, Sall said.
At the meeting, Xi noted that the two countries are important cooperative partners and are both co-chairs of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation.
With the joint efforts of both sides, China's relations with Senegal, and all of Africa, have witnessed remarkable development. Political mutual trust has constantly deepened and pragmatic cooperation has yielded fruitful results, Xi said.
China will continue to act with sincerity, good faith and amity and pursue principles for the greater good and shared interests, he said.
Beijing will reinforce solidarity and cooperation with African countries, including Senegal, and join hands in building a China-Africa community with a shared future in the new era, he added.
The Senegalese president said his country is satisfied with the progress made by FOCAC and is willing to further advance cooperation within the framework of the forum.
Republic of Korea
While meeting with Republic of Korea President Yoon Suk-yeol, Xi said that China is willing to work with the ROK to better uphold, consolidate and develop their ties to create greater stability for the region and the world at large.
Xi said that China and the ROK are close neighbors that cannot be moved away from each other and also cooperative partners that cannot be separated. The two countries shoulder important responsibilities in safeguarding regional peace and promoting global prosperity, and they share extensive converging interests, he added.
Noting that this year marks the 30th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties between the two countries, Xi said the 30 years of history has demonstrated that the healthy and stable development of China-ROK ties conforms to the fundamental interests of people from both countries.
He underlined the need for both countries to strengthen strategic communication and enhance political mutual trust.
Saying that the economies of China and the ROK are highly complementary, Xi called for advancing the alignment of the countries' development strategies to seek common development and prosperity.
The two countries should step up negotiations on a free-trade agreement, intensify cooperation in the fields of high-technology manufacturing, big data and green economy, and jointly uphold the international free trade system, he said.
While highlighting the importance of ensuring secure, stable and smooth global industrial and supply chains, Xi called on the ROK to oppose politicizing economic cooperation and undermining economic cooperation under the pretext of a security issue.
China stands ready to promote cultural and people-to-people exchanges and cooperation with the ROK, strengthen communication and coordination under the framework of the G20, jointly practice true multilateralism and uphold the overall situation of peace and stability in the region, he added.
Yoon said that the ROK is willing to take the 30th anniversary as an opportunity to develop mature and mutually beneficial relations with China based on mutual respect, and this is in the interests of both countries.
The ROK hopes to maintain exchanges with China at various levels, strengthen cultural and people-to-people interactions, enhance the people's friendship, and work with China to safeguard the free-trade system and cope with global challenges, he added.
Argentina
While meeting with Argentine President Alberto Fernandez, Xi called on China and Argentina to accelerate the development of jointly building the Belt and Road and deepen bilateral cooperation in such areas as agriculture, energy, infrastructure and space.
The two sides should also carry out exchanges and cooperation in various fields including culture, media, education, sports and youth, he said, adding that China is willing to import more quality products from Argentina.
As this year marks the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries, Xi said it is a crucial year in the history of the China-Argentina relationship that builds on the past achievements and ushers in a brighter future.
He noted that China and Argentina are both developing countries and emerging economies. The two sides should plan for the development of bilateral ties from a strategic level and strive for the progress of their comprehensive strategic partnership, Xi added.
He said China is ready to strengthen exchanges with Argentina on sharing governance experience, support each other to follow a development path that suits their respective national conditions and also meets people's expectations, and support each other to safeguard sovereignty, security and development interests.
Xi also expressed China's willingness to work with Argentina to deepen its relationship with Latin America in the new era, a relationship that features equality, mutual benefit, innovation and openness, and is beneficial to the people.
He also called on the two sides to closely coordinate on multilateral platforms such as the G20, practice true multilateralism and implement the Global Development Initiative and the Global Security Initiative.
Fernandez congratulated Xi again on his reelection as the general secretary of the CPC Central Committee, saying that his country is anticipating further deepening the China-Argentina relationship.
He said that Argentina will always be the friend and brother of China and firmly supports China to safeguard its sovereignty and territorial integrity.
Argentina is willing to promote cooperation with China in trade, the economy, finance and other areas, to push forward the development of the Belt and Road and to build a China-Latin America community with a shared future, Fernandez said.
He also said that his country hopes to strengthen coordination and cooperation with China under multilateral frameworks such as BRICS and to actively promote Latin American countries' relations with China.
Netherlands
China and the Netherlands should continue their commitment to opening-up and pragmatism, as they have done over the past 50 years since the establishment of ambassadorial diplomatic ties, Xi said while meeting with Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte.
The two sides should promote high-level exchanges, consolidate political mutual trust, manage the right way forward of bilateral ties and adhere to mutually beneficial, win-win results, Xi said.
He said the two countries should advance cooperation in areas such as agriculture, irrigation and energy, and strive for greater development of their open and practical comprehensive cooperative partnership.
Xi stressed that the world is integrated and all countries should carry out cooperation with each other, instead of seeking "decoupling".
Any politicization of trade and economic issues must be opposed in order to maintain the stability of global industrial and supply chains, he said.
To jointly build a favorable global environment for development, Xi said China is ready to uphold and practice true multilateralism with the Netherlands, stick to the right direction of economic globalization and safeguard the multilateral trading system with the World Trade Organization at its core.
He also expressed the hope that the Dutch side will push for the European Union to stick with opening-up and cooperation, and play a positive role for promoting the sound and stable development of China-EU ties.
Rutte said he was glad to meet again with Xi in the year that marks the 50th anniversary of the establishment of ambassadorial diplomatic ties, which was celebrated by both sides with multiple events.
As part of the celebrations, the first full Dutch translation of Dream of the Red Chamber, a Chinese literary masterpiece, was completed by Dutch Sinologists and translators after 13 years of arduous work.
Rutte said he remembered Xi's state visit to the Netherlands in 2014, and hoped to keep close exchanges with China and to maintain the strong momentum of the China-Netherlands relationship.
The Netherlands is ready to focus on the big picture of its relations with China, tap potential for cooperation and expand dialogue and cooperation in fields including innovation and climate change, to push for greater achievements in bilateral ties in the next 50 years, Rutte said.
Australia
While meeting with Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, Xi called on the two countries to improve, maintain and develop bilateral ties as this not only conforms to the fundamental interests of both their peoples, but also helps promote peace and development in the Asia-Pacific region and the world at large.
During the first formal meeting between the two countries' leaders in six years, Xi said that the China-Australia relationship once led China's relations with developed countries and is worthy of being cherished by both sides.
The difficulties in bilateral ties in recent years are not what both two sides wish to see, he said.
As this year marks the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Australia, Xi said a mature and stable relationship should first be reflected in considering their differences and disputes in a correct way.
The key to realizing the steady development of the China-Australia relationship is to transcend differences, respect each other and achieve mutual benefits and win-win results, he said.
Xi said there are no conflicts of fundamental interests between the two countries, and they have a traditional friendship between their peoples and highly complementary economic structures.
The two sides also share the common appeal to uphold the purposes and principles of the United Nations Charter, he said.
Xi said China pays attention to the willingness to improve and develop bilateral relations shown by the Australian side. The two sides should draw lessons from the past and discuss how to bring the China-Australia relationship back on the right track and push forward its sustainable development, he added.
Noting that there remains huge potential for economic and trade cooperation, Xi said China hopes the Australian side will provide a good business environment for Chinese enterprises to invest and do business there.
Albanese said the comprehensive strategic partnership between Australia and China fits the common interests of both sides.
As the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties falls next month, Australia is willing to work with China to narrow differences through constructive and candid dialogues, promote the steady development of bilateral ties and carry out more cooperation on important issues such as climate change, trade and the economy, Albanese said.
Spain
China and Spain need to maintain high-level communications and consolidate mutual trust, Xi said during a meeting with Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez.
Both countries should understand and support each other on issues related to their core interests in sovereignty and security, as well as development interests, Xi said.
He noted that next year will be the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties between the two countries. China-Spain ties have developed in a healthy way over almost half a century as both sides adhere to mutual respect, equality and mutual benefit, and pursue the right path, which enables countries with different cultures and systems to get along well, Xi said.
China's efforts to advance Chinese modernization and pursue high-quality development will bring about new development opportunities for the world, including Spain, he said. China is willing to work with Spain to take their comprehensive strategic partnership to a new stage.
While stressing the importance of promoting friendship between the two countries, Xi called for boosting pragmatic cooperation. He welcomed Spanish companies and goods entering the Chinese market, and expressed hope that Spain will provide Chinese enterprises with fair, equitable, transparent and nondiscriminatory market treatment.
China stands ready to strengthen communication and coordination with Spain within multilateral frameworks, including the G20, and jointly deal with challenges arising from climate change and food and energy security, Xi said.
He also expressed hope that Spain will play a positive role in promoting the healthy and steady development of China-Europe ties.
Sanchez again congratulated Xi on his reelection as general secretary of the CPC Central Committee.
Saying China is a stabilizer of the international order, the Spanish prime minister agreed with Xi on his advocating solidarity and cooperation at the G20 Summit to cope with global challenges as well as his proposal for advancing more inclusive global development.
Sanchez hailed the development of bilateral ties and said that Spain hopes to use the 50th anniversary as an opportunity to promote greater development of the countries' comprehensive strategic partnership.
Spain hopes to maintain high-level exchanges with China and promote exchanges and cooperation in the fields of trade, investment, culture and dealing with climate change, and will better facilitate Chinese investment, he said.
He also expressed Spain's willingness to actively promote dialogue and cooperation in various fields between Europe and China.
Contact the writers at xuwei@chinadaily.com.cn