French corporate leaders appreciate innovation, opening up of Chinese market

The French corporate leaders attending the ongoing 7th China International Import Expo (CIIE) said they are enthusiastic about investing in the increasingly innovative Chinese market and they hope the two countries will share a greater future as China keeps expanding opening up.

France as one of the guests of honor of this year's CIIE has brought 19 companies to the expo held in Shanghai.

The attending French companies said they expect this event will help promote French technologies and manufacturing goods to the world and also help strengthen their cooperation with the Chinese counterparts.

"China also invests in the innovations. I mean innovation is very active. So, we cooperate with government, of course, in China. We also cooperate with private companies. We have a lot of joint ventures for instance in China. I'm sure we have to find a win-win cooperation," said Ludovic Weber, APAC CEO of Saint-Gobain, a material and solution provider.

Denis Vergneau, general manager of SINODIS, said the French dessert company is increasing its investment in China and hopes to strengthen cooperation as well.

"We are investing in people, investing in plans, investing in products, investing in innovation to better collaborate, to better share, to better exchange," he said.

As China keeps opening its market to the world, attending French companies said they believe the two countries will have a better future as they march hand in hand.

"I was as usual amazed by the collective energy and I really hope and I really believe. This is going to drive our future together," said Eric Vallat, CEO of Remy Cointreau, a spirit company.

"Everything China can do to open up is very positive. The more China can open the doors the better it is. So, we are very confident about the future," said Jean-Paul Agon, Chairman of Board of Directors of L'Oreal.

The 6-day event, which will close on Sunday, has seen fruitful results, with nearly 600 deals secured, over 400 new product debuts, and 80 loyal exhibitors signing up for next year's event.

French corporate leaders appreciate innovation, opening up of Chinese market

The delegation of the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) and the Chinse People's Armed Police Force to the third session of the 14th National People's Congress (NPC), China's national legislature, held group meetings to review the government work report on Wednesday afternoon in Beijing.

Chinese Premier Li Qiang delivered the government work report on behalf of the State Council at the opening meeting of the third session of the 14th NPC at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing on Wednesday morning.

Zhang Youxia, a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and vice chairman of the Central Military Commission (CMC), said that the extraordinary achievements made by the Party, the country and the military over the past year have proved that no difficulties or obstacles can stop China from advancing the historical process of national rejuvenation.

He stressed that the entire military forces must focus on achieving the centenary goal of the PLA, comprehensively enhance the military's capability to fight and win, and accelerate the advancement of the modernization of national defense and armed forces.

He Weidong, also a member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and vice chairman of the CMC, said that under the strong leadership of the CPC Central Committee, China has made new solid strides forward in advancing Chinese modernization, urging the whole military to strengthen military training and combat readiness, promote the implementation of plans, unswervingly enforce discipline while combating corruption to achieve the centenary goal of the PLA.

Military delegation to NPC annual session reviews gov't work report