Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi on Sunday said he hopes France and other European countries can play a role and help ease the tension between China and the US, as he spoke at a conference by the French Institute for International Relations in Paris.

(File photo: CFP)

Wang made the remarks in response to a question regarding the recent tension between China and the U.S., adding that the door of dialogue with Washington is always open.

"I believe we can reach consensus, if we talk seriously," Wang said.

Noting some extreme forces from the U.S. attempt to contain China and trigger conflicts based on ideological bias, Wang reiterated China's consistent stance on peaceful and inclusive development, stressing that China will never seek hegemony as peace and harmony are the core of China's philosophy and civilization.

The world is on the crossroad of unprecedented challenges, Wang said, calling for strengthening cooperation with Europe to provide more stability to the world in face of disturbances.

Defining China as a defender and contributor of the world peace and development, the senior Chinese diplomat also pledged that China will shoulder its own responsibility together and never seek "China First" in the international community.

Paris is the fourth stop on Wang's European tour, his first overseas trip this year since the COVID-19 pandemic eased in China.

He has visited Italy, the Netherlands and Norway and will travel to Germany on Sunday. 

In his opening speech at the conference, Wang reiterated China's commitment to peaceful development, multilateralism and globalization and called for the solidarity of world communities as the pandemic continues.

Wang also promised that China, as one of the a few countries maintain positive economic growth in 2020, will help world recover from the pandemic.