Chinese President Xi Jinping's Replies

President Xi Jinping Replies to Letter from Teachers and Students of an International School in France

Recently, President Xi Jinping replied to a letter from teachers and students of the Chinese language class at an international school in France’s Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur region, extending his best wishes to them and all the faculty and students of the school. President Xi Jinping noted that：

🔸The Chinese language carries with it the 5,000-year Chinese civilization, and its square characters embody great wisdom of history. Learning Chinese offers a window into both the ancient and modern China, and builds a bridge toward a brighter future for China and France.

🔸 Young people from France, and more broadly Europe, are welcome to China for studies, exchanges and sightseeing, where they can see and experience firsthand a true, multi-dimensional, open, and progressive China. He expressed the hope that the Chinese language can be their lifelong friend.

🔸 This year marks the Year of the Horse in the Chinese zodiac. The horse symbolizes resilience, courage, and progress. He expressed the hope that the students can be at the forefront of promoting friendship and cooperation between China and France, and more broadly with Europe, and play a key role in this endeavor.

Representatives of the teachers and students of the Chinese language class at the international school in France’s Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur region recently wrote to President Xi Jinping, sharing their experience in learning the Chinese language and love for the Chinese culture, and expressing their keen interest in enhancing youth exchanges and deepening the traditional friendship between China and France.

High Level Exchanges

Wang Yi Has a Phone Call with Diplomatic Adviser to the French President Emmanuel Bonne

On March 20, 2026, Member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and Director of the Office of the Central Commission for Foreign Affairs Wang Yi had a phone call with Diplomatic Adviser to the French President Emmanuel Bonne at the latter’s request to communicate on the situation in the Middle East.

Emmanuel Bonne briefed on France’s views regarding the current situation in the Middle East, including in Iran and Lebanon, stating that as major countries, both France and China support the United Nations, abide by international law, and advocate resolving differences through dialogue. The two sides should work together to de-escalate tensions, seek ways to restart negotiations, and make contributions to this end. France stands ready to strengthen communication and coordination with China on this issue to promote peace and stability in the Middle East at an early date.

Wang Yi elaborated on China’s position, stating that the current situation in the Middle East continues to deteriorate, with hostilities persisting and spilling over into wider regions, which not only undermines the stability of global energy supplies but also precipitates a severe humanitarian crisis. The use of force cannot solve problems, and unjust wars must not continue. Faced with this critical situation, China and France, as permanent members of the United Nations (UN) Security Council, should strengthen strategic communication and coordination, firmly uphold the UN Charter and international law, and prevent the world from reverting to the law of the jungle. The most urgent tasks are threefold: first, to contain the spread of conflict and prevent further involvement by other countries; second, for the international community to speak with one voice in calling for an immediate ceasefire and cessation of hostilities, while intensifying efforts to encourage peace talks; and third, for the United Nations and the Security Council to play their due role in promoting the early restoration of peace and stability in the region. Despite the difficulties, the correct path out of the crisis remains dialogue and negotiation. China and France should make joint efforts to this end.

Wang Yi Has a Phone Call with Dutch Foreign Minister Tom Berendsen

On March 13, 2026, Member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and Foreign Minister Wang Yi had a phone call with Dutch Foreign Minister Tom Berendsen at the latter's request.

Wang Yi said that China appreciates the positive signals from the new Dutch government regarding its emphasis on relations with China. China’s foreign policy remains consistent and stable, and China stands ready to strengthen exchanges and communication with the Dutch side, enhance mutual understanding and trust, and continuously deepen the open and pragmatic partnership for comprehensive cooperation.

Wang Yi briefed on the recently concluded Two Sessions, expressing the hope that the new Dutch government will demonstrate new vitality and initiatives, adhere to independence and self-reliance, and support normal economic and trade exchanges between enterprises of both countries. China hopes that the Dutch side would encourage EU institutions to view China objectively and rationally, uphold the positioning of China and the EU as partners, and commit to openness and cooperation.

Tom Berendsen said that the new Dutch government highly appreciates China’s rapid development achievements and views relations with China as one of its most important bilateral relationships. The Dutch side is willing to maintain high-level exchanges with the Chinese side, strengthen dialogue and exchanges at all levels, and deepen pragmatic cooperation in areas including climate change and water resource management, jointly upholding multilateralism and continuously advancing the open and pragmatic partnership for comprehensive cooperation between the Netherlands and China to new heights. The Dutch side stands ready to play a constructive role in promoting the healthy and stable development of EU-China relations.

Wang Yi Has a Phone Call with UK Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper

On March 19, 2026, Member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and Foreign Minister Wang Yi had a phone call with UK Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper at the latter’s request, and the two sides exchanged views focusing on the current situation in the Middle East.

Yvette Cooper briefed on the UK’s perspective regarding the current Middle East situation, stating that in the face of an increasingly turbulent world, the UK hopes to maintain close communication with China to put an end to hostilities at an early date, resume diplomatic negotiations, and seek a long-term solution.

Wang Yi elaborated on China’s position, noting that A protracted war yields no winners; a ceasefire and an end to hostilities reflect the common aspiration of the international community. China urges all parties to immediately cease military actions, resolve differences through equal dialogue, and jointly safeguard regional peace and stability. As permanent members of the United Nations (UN) Security Council, China and the UK bear the responsibility of maintaining international peace and security. Both countries should enhance communication, consistently pursue actions conducive to peace, and jointly commit to upholding the purposes and principles of the UN Charter and the basic norms governing international relations, so as to prevent further erosion of the international order and the foundations of world peace.

The two sides also exchanged views on China-UK relations and agreed that both countries should actively implement the consensus reached by the leaders of both countries, enhance exchanges, and continuously advance the long-term, stable comprehensive strategic partnership between China and the UK, so as to inject stability and certainty to a world marked by turbulence and change.

China, U.S. Hold Candid, In-depth, Constructive Talks on Economic, Trade issues

The Chinese and U.S. delegations held candid, in-depth and constructive exchanges and consultations here from Sunday to Monday on economic and trade issues of mutual concern, including tariff arrangements, promoting bilateral trade and investment, and maintaining existing consultation consensus.

During the talks, which are guided by the important consensus reached by the two heads of state, the two sides reached some new consensus and agreed to continue consultations.

🔸These outcomes have injected greater certainty and stability into bilateral economic and trade relations as well as the global economy, said Chinese Vice Premier He Lifeng.

🔸China has consistently opposed the unilateral tariffs imposed by the United States, He said, urging Washington to completely remove such tariffs and other restrictive measures. China will take necessary steps to firmly safeguard its legitimate rights and interests, He added.

🔸China expects the United States to move in the same direction, follow through on the important consensus reached by the two heads of state, expand areas of cooperation and reduce problems, so as to promote the healthy, stable and sustainable development of China-U.S. economic and trade relations, He said.

The U.S. side said that a stable China-U.S. economic and trade relationship is of great importance to both countries and the world, and helps promote global economic growth, supply chain security and financial stability. Both sides should reduce frictions, avoid escalation of the situation, and resolve differences through consultation.

The two sides agreed to study the establishment of a cooperation mechanism to promote bilateral trade and investment, continue to make good use of the China-U.S. economic and trade consultation mechanism, strengthen dialogue and communication, properly manage differences, expand practical cooperation, and promote the sustained, stable and sound development of bilateral economic and trade relations. 

China-US Reach New Consensuses and Consultations Will Continue

China and the US have reached new consensuses in the Paris trade talks, and consultations will continue, a spokesperson for China's Ministry of Commerce (MOFCOM) said on Thursday, marking the ministry's latest remarks on China-US trade relations after the two countries concluded two-day consultations in Paris on Monday.

China's Economy

China‘s Economy Got off to a Robust and Promising Start in the First Two Months

During the January-February period, production and supply growth accelerated while market demand continued to recover. Employment and prices remained generally stable, according to data released by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) on Monday.

🔸China's value-added industrial output rose 6.3 % year on year in the first two months of 2026, up 1.1 % from December last year.

🔸In the first two months, the service production index grew 5.2 % year on year, 0.2% faster than the pace in December 2025.

🔸Retail sales of consumer goods, a major gauge of consumption strength, rose 2.8% year on year in the January-February period, 1.9% faster than the pace recorded in December.

🔸Fixed-asset investment increased 1.8% year on year in the first two months, compared with a 3.8% decline for the whole of last year. Infrastructure investment grew 11.4% year on year during the period, markedly faster than the pace in 2025.

🔸In February, the consumer confidence index rose one point from the previous month, marking a second consecutive month of recovery.

"The better-than-expected economic performance in the first two months highlighted the strong vitality and resilience of the Chinese economy.We have every reason to remain confident about China's economic prospects," NBS spokesperson Fu Linghui said.

Despite mounting uncertainties at home and abroad, the fundamentals underpinning China's long-term growth remain unchanged, he said, citing momentum from new quality productive forces, the accelerated building of the new development paradigm, and the effects of macroeconomic policies.

China will continue to implement more proactive and effective macro policies, foster new quality productive forces in line with local conditions, and provide greater support to stabilize employment, enterprises, markets and expectations, Fu said.

Foreign Investment in China in 2025

Global investors voted with their feet in 2025:

🔸China’s FDI YoY Growth: +19.1%

🔸High-Tech Sector Share: 32.3%

Despite global headwinds, capital continues to flow into China’s innovation-based economy.

Ambassador's Interview

The Brussels Times Republish an Interview of Ambassador CAI Run：China’s 15th Five-Year Plan Opens a New Chapter of China-EU Cooperation

This interview was originally published in China Today.

(Read the full text here)

Spokesperson's Remarks

China to Offer Emergency Humanitarian Aid to Iran, Jordan, Lebanon, Iraq

China stays committed to the vision of building a community with a shared future for humanity, internationalism and a humanitarian spirit. The ongoing conflict inflicted an excruciating humanitarian disaster on people and countries in the region, including Iran. China deeply sympathizes with people in relevant countries and our hearts go out to them.

China has announced the decision to provide emergency humanitarian assistance to Iran, Jordan, Lebanon and Iraq. We hope this will help ease the difficult humanitarian situation facing the people there. China will continue striving for a ceasefire, an early return of peace and stability to the region, and a stop to the spread of humanitarian crisis.

China is Always Against the Use of Force in International Relations

China is always against the use of force in international relations. The killing of Iranian leaders and attacks on civilian targets are by no means acceptable. As the conflict rages on in the Middle East and tensions continue to escalate and spill over, the international community is widely calling for an early ceasefire and end to hostilities. China calls on parties to the conflict to immediately stop military operations and prevent plunging the region into chaos.

Our Mediation Effort will Not Cease as long as the Conflict Continues

As we speak, the conflict is still raging in the Middle East and tensions continue to escalate and spill over. To help calm the situation and bring about peace, Special Envoy of the Chinese Government on the Middle East Issue Zhai Jun visited several countries in the region over the past few days. 

Special Envoy Zhai Jun’s visit to the Middle East is part of China’s intensive diplomatic mediation effort. China is a responsible major country and a sincere friend of countries in the region. To work for reconciliation and peace in the region is a cornerstone of China’s Middle East policy. Our mediation effort will not cease as long as the conflict continues.

Weekly Quotes

Visual Highlights

🔹  Blossoms and breezes tell the story of spring in China.(Xinhua photos)

Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in the newsletter are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of China, except those from the official website of the Chinese Foreign Ministry, Chinese Mission to the EU and other Chinese governmental websites.

Cilck to subscribe. Please let us know if you have any suggestions or comments about this newsletter. 

                                                                                   Editor: MA Hanwei