China's most senior diplomat says China and France could explore a political solution to the Ukraine crisis. Wang Yi made the remarks during a meeting on Wednesday with French president Emmanuel Macron.

Wang said Beijing is calling for an immediate ceasefire in Ukraine and is ready to work with partners like France towards that goal.

According to a statement released on Wednesday by the French President's office, the two men "discussed the war led by Russia in Ukraine and its consequences on the most vulnerable countries, particularly in terms of food security and financing capacity."

"The president outlined the consequences of this conflict on international peace and security as well as French support for a country under attack," the statement continued.

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Ukraine is an area where China and France have chosen different policies to find peace, but China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs pointed out the two nations do have long-standing ties and mutual interests.

Other areas of discusssion included the climate emergency where there was agreement between Macron and Wang. Both countries are working together to try to lower global emissions, increase the use of renewable energy sources, and protect the world's biodiversity, the Elysee Palace statement claimed.

Macron also spoke to Wang about the One Forest Summit, which the French leader will co-chair in Gabon on March 2. France says the aim of the conference in the Central African country will be to propose solutions to forest nations on how to benefit from protective management of forests.

After the talks with the French president, China's most senior diplomat went to the French foreign ministry to attend a dinner with his French counterpart, Catherine Colonna. They discussed trade, technology, and deepening their bilateral relations.

The Indo-Pacific is another important topic for Franco-Chinese dialogue. France sees the Indian and Pacific Oceans as a domestic arena, with 1.5 million citizens and 8,000 troops spread across French territories in the region.

The Indo-Pacific is also a key strategic area for Chinese influence. On Thursday in Paris, there will be a session of the Franco-Chinese strategic dialogue to discuss bilateral projects, and following that Wang Yi is scheduled to go to Italy.

He will also speak in Germany at the Munich Security Conference this weekend, with visits also planned to Hungary and Russia.