President Xi Jinping meets with French President Emmanuel Macron in the Japanese city of Osaka, June 29, 2019. [Photo by Feng Yongbin/chinadaily.com.cn]

China will continue to firmly pursue the strategy of opening-up based on mutual benefit, President Xi Jinping said when he held a telephone conversation with his French counterpart Emannuel Macron on Tuesday night.

Xi told Macron the nation welcomes France as the guest country of honor to attend the second China International Import Expo to be held in Shanghai in November.

The nation stands ready to work with people around the world including France to advance the building of a community with a shared future for mankind, he said.

Macron said he looks forward to visiting China in the near future and his country will actively attend the expo.

The two presidents exchanged views on major regional and international issues of mutual concern.