On January 22, 2020, President Xi Jinping held telephone talks at request with President Emmanuel Macron of France ahead of the Chinese Lunar New Year.

Emmanuel Macron first extended his greetings to Xi Jinping and the Chinese People for the new year, and wished the Chinese people a happy Spring Festival.

Xi Jinping wished Emmanuel Macron and the French people a happy new year. Xi Jinping noted, the year of 2019 witnessed high-level development of China-France relations. I exchanged visits with you, ushering in a new chapter in bilateral relations. The agreements we reached are being well implemented. I am willing to work with you in the new year to maintain the high-level development of China-France relations. The two sides should continue to leverage the leading role of high-level exchanges. I am willing to maintain communication on a regular basis with you so as to exchange views on major issues of common concern in a timely manner. The two countries need to accelerate the implementation of the consensus we have reached on practical cooperation, accommodate the major concerns of both sides, push forward cooperation in such fields as civilian nuclear energy, science and technology, industry and aerospace in line with the principle of mutual benefit, and make good preparations for the 2021 China-France Year of Culture and Tourism. The Chinese market is open to the whole world, and will certainly continue to be open to Europe and France. The two sides should enhance communication and coordination on international affairs, and support each other in hosting the World Conservation Congress and the fourth One Planet Summit in Marseilles in June and the 15th Conference of the Parties (COP 15) to the Convention on Biological Diversity in Kunming in October. Both countries should also deepen communication and coordination on the reform of the World Trade Organization (WTO), and keep the reform in the right direction.

Xi Jinping pointed out, China and the European Union (EU) will celebrate the 45th anniversary of the diplomatic relations this year, and the two sides will have a series of major exchange programs. I hope that China and the EU will reach a high-level investment agreement at an early date, and join hands to uphold multilateralism and free trade system, improve global governance, build an open world economy, and tackle climate change and other global challenges, so as to lift China-EU relations to higher levels in the new year.

Emmanuel Macron said, this year is of great significance both to France-China relations and to EU-China relations, with a long list of items on both agendas. I look forward to visiting China again. It is hoped that both sides will continue to advance cooperation in trade, investment, environment protection and other areas. The French side hopes to strengthen coordination and cooperation with the Chinese side on such issues as climate change, biodiversity and the WTO reform, and supports the Chinese side in successfully holding the COP 15. I am ready to reiterate that on the 5G issue, the French side will not adopt discriminative measures against any specific nation or company, and stands ready to keep communication with the Chinese side. It is hoped that negotiations on the EU-China investment agreement will achieve progress at an early date.

Emmanuel Macron noted, the French side supports the Chinese side in actively dealing with a novel coronavirus, and is willing to enhance health cooperation with the Chinese side. Xi Jinping said, since the outbreak of novel coronavirus, the Chinese side has taken strict measures in prevention, control and treatment, and has been releasing relevant information to the public and keeping the World Health Organization as well as relevant countries and regions posted in a timely manner. The Chinese side is willing to work with the international community to effectively tackle the spread of the disease and maintain global health security.

The two heads of state also exchanged views on the Iranian nuclear issue and other issues.