French foreign minister says France ‘committed’ to dialogue with China

France is committed to dialogue with China, French Foreign Minister Catherine Colonna said on Friday, affirming ties after a European Union anti-subsidy probe backed by Paris into Chinese-made electric vehicles rankled Beijing. Colonna's visit to the Chinese capital, centred around encouraging exchanges between citizens of both countries such as students and tourists, has threatened to be overshadowed by trade issues in the wake of the EV investigation, which Beijing has blasted as "protectionist". "We are really committed to dialogue with China," Colonna told China's Premier Li Qiang, adding that she was "honoured" and "happy" to see him after their Paris meeting in June. "The two countries are permanent members of the (UN) Security Council, and they have global responsibility...to find the answers to great challenges, in particular the challenges of climate, biodiversity and anything that can ease the tension in the world," she said at the meeting.