Hollande: Settle trade disputes through talks

PARIS - French President Francois Hollande on Tuesday hoped to settle trade disputes between China and the EU through negotiations, especially the recent trade frictions on China-made solar panels imported into the European Union.

Hollande was speaking in a meeting at the Elysee Palace with members of the China Entrepreneur Club (CEC) who are in Paris to attend the fourth International Capital conference (ICC) .

The French head of state hoped trade disputes between China and Europe to be solved through consultation, stressing the need to create favorable conditions to faciliate mutual investment on both sides.

Speaking to 40 enterprisers of China's largest private enterprises, Hollande introduced reforms made by the French government aimed at strengthening competitiveness and attractiveness to accommodate more international investment and create new jobs.

The president noted that France is the first destination in Europe for Chinese investment, and also a gateway into the EU and other markets, promising that his country will continue to work to create a better investment environment for Chinese enterprises.

Hollande said France supports the internationalization of the RMB, including the creation of a currency swap line with China which will allow the Bourse de Paris (security exchange of Paris) to compete with London, becoming the yuan overseas trading center.

Hollande called for the strengthening of the partnership between Europe and China to rebalance economic and trade exchanges, allowing the global economy to return to sustainable and durable growth.

The president finally expressed his commitment to the Sino-French comprehensive strategic partnership, a relationship based on mutual trust, economic reciprocity and mutual benefit of research.

The fourth International Capital Conference started Monday in Paris. The two-day ICC was organized by Cavendish Group in partnership with China Entrepreneur Club and the French Foundation of Prospective and Innovation.

More than 300 Chinese and Western business leaders of all economic sectors attended the meeting.