China ready to maintain momentum of steady development of China-France ties: Xi

China is ready to maintain a momentum of steady and positive development of China-France relations, Chinese President Xi Jinping said on Tuesday when meeting with French President Emmanuel Macron on the sidelines of the G20 Summit held in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

Xi said he is delighted to meet President Macron in Rio de Janeiro, and expressed once again his thanks to Macron for his warm reception when Xi visited France in May this year.

"We exchanged our views on issues of common concern in depth, looked ahead to China-France relations for the next 60 years and jointly voiced our views on global challenges and hotspot issues, which had left wide and positive influence in the international community," said Xi.

In the past six months, many new changes have happened in the international situation and there has been a growing number of risks and challenges, making the future direction more uncertain and unpredictable, said the Chinese president.

"China-France relations are of unique strategic significance and global influence as both are independent, mature and responsible major countries. I would like to work with you to deepen strategic communication, strengthen mutually beneficial cooperation, and jointly respond to changes and challenges according to the consensus we reached in May, so as to maintain a momentum of steady and positive development of China-France relations and make greater contribution to the sound development of China-Europe relations and world peace and stability," said Xi.

Chinese President Xi Jinping received a warm welcome upon his arrival in Brasilia on Tuesday as the local Batala drum band performed traditional drumming to greet the visiting president.

Xi is in the Brazilian capital for a state visit at the invitation of Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva.

The lively reception at the airport featured an all-women ensemble of percussionists, dressed in festive costumes and putting on a lively performance in a show of friendship between the two nations.

Xi's state visit to the Latin American country follows his participation in the two-day 19th G20 Leaders' Summit in the Brazilian city of Rio de Janeiro, which concluded earlier on Tuesday.