Chinese President Xi Jinping told his French counterpart Emmanuel Macron that he was willing to work with France to “eliminate interference” and work on developing a steady relationship as they met for talks on Thursday, where issues such as trade are expected to be on the agenda.

Xi said the world was undergoing rapid changes and the two countries “should demonstrate their responsibility, uphold the banner of multilateralism… and firmly stand on the right side of history”.

“China, together with France, has always acted in the fundamental interests of the two peoples and long-term interests of the international community, eliminating various interferences, adhering to equal dialogue and open cooperation,” he said.

Xi added that doing so could “more steadily” strengthen ties and contribute to the promotion of an equal and orderly multipolar world.

“China and France are both farsighted and responsible independent major powers, and constructive forces promoting a multipolar world,” he said.

Macron said that the two countries would continue to move forward amid geopolitical uncertainties. He admitted that there would be disagreements “but we have a responsibility to know how to transcend them and find cooperative mechanisms to resolve differences”.