China - Press Release - Video conference between President Emmanuel Macron and Chancellor Angela Merkel, and President Xi Jinping (Elysée Palace, 5 July 2021)
In order to prepare upcoming multilateral events, particularly the IUCN World Conservation Congress, COP15 in Kunming, COP26 in Glasgow and the G20 Summit in Rome, the President of the French Republic and the German Federal Chancellor today held a joint videoconference with the President of the People’s Republic of China.
After welcoming China’s ratification of the Kigali Amendment on HFC gases, President Macron and Chancellor Merkel discussed tangible measures with Chinese President Xi Jinping, including the end of finance for coal-fired power plants, that are needed to meet the objectives set for the evolution of greenhouse gas emissions and achieving carbon neutrality. They highlighted the importance of moving forward on China supporting the High Ambition Coalition for Nature and People, a structural initiative for protection of biodiversity.
Following on from the Summit on the Financing of African Economies, the French President and the German Federal Chancellor welcomed China’s commitment to contributing to the restructuring of the debt of vulnerable countries within the Common Framework agreed at the G20. It is now urgent to implement this initiative and move forward on reallocating International Monetary Fund (IMF) special drawing rights, with the goal of raising $100 billion. When it comes to public health, the development of production capacities for pharmaceuticals in Africa is now a priority and work needs to continue within the multilateral ACT-A framework.
President Macron and Chancellor Merkel reaffirmed European expectations as regards access to the Chinese market and conditions of fair competition. In the context of progress in the vaccination campaign in Europe and in China, flights should resume as soon as possible, in accordance with the principle of reciprocity.
During this working meeting, the latest developments in Iran and Myanmar were also discussed. The French President and the German Federal Chancellor mentioned their serious concerns as regards the human rights situation in China and recalled their requirements when it comes to fighting forced labour.
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