France is preparing to take over the rotating European Union presidency in January, prompting Beijing to urge Paris to remain independent on foreign policy and develop a good working relationship

China’s Foreign Minister says the French government has the ability to repair and strengthen ties between China and the EU, following troubled relations in recent times.

This all comes as the European Union prepares to meet and discuss China’s position over the Taiwan Strait, with tensions also rising around alleged human rights breaches in the nation’s XIN-JANG region.

China has since hit out at sanctions imposed by the west surrounding these alleged abuses.

The Foreign Ministry is calling France a major power with an “independent tradition and strategic thinking”.

It says “France should take the opportunity of holding the rotating presidency of the EU to push China-EU relations – to eliminate interference and overcome difficulties”.

Meanwhile, the US is working hard to strengthen ties with Europe to counter China, with Beijing pushing the EU to stay out of its spat with Washington.

Beijing says “strengthening dialogue between China and Europe is beneficial to both sides and the world at large”.