Paris and Washington need to work together on a "clear and pragmatic" policy towards China, France's foreign minister has said.

Jean-Yves Le Drian, speaking during talks with the U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken, said the European Union views China as a partner and a rival. 

He said that while the EU and China can collaborate on climate change and biodiversity, in the technological and economic spheres they are competitors. 

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Blinken struck a more antagonistic note, stating the U.S. and France stand together to face countries like Russia and China that, in his opinion, "challenge the rules-based international order." 

Speaking in Paris on a tour of European capitals, Blinken is seeking to bolster his country's European alliances with planned talks on the pandemic, climate change and international security threats.

A fluent French speaker, Blinken said he feels "at home" in Paris, having spent part of his childhood in France, moving to the capital with his mother and attending a bilingual school. 

The two men spoke of the enduring relationship between the old allies. They reiterated their alignment on issues from Libya and Syria, climate change, the fight for democratic values and COVID-19 vaccine support for developing nations. 

The Iran nuclear deal 

The faltering Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), commonly known as the Iran nuclear deal, was also on the agenda. 

Since April, Iran has been in talks with world powers about reviving the 2015 deal under which it agreed to curbs on its nuclear program in return for the lifting of sanctions. The Vienna talks are now on pause, expected to last until next week.

The U.S. abandoned the deal under then-President Donald Trump in 2018. Iran responded by violating some of its restrictions. The new administration of President Joe Biden wants to revive the accord, a move supported by France and China, but Tehran and Washington have yet to agree which side should take what steps and when.

Officials on all sides have said significant issues are still to be resolved before the deal can be revived.

"We still have significant differences with Iran," Blinken said, adding that he hoped a resumption of talks in the coming days could resolve them.

"We are only going to reach an agreement with Iran if it honors its obligations under the JCPOA, and we are just not there yet," he added.

Le Drian echoed those comments: "We're waiting for Iranian authorities to take the final difficult decisions to allow for the revival of the 2015 nuclear deal."