China, France reaffirm support of Paris climate agreement, call it 'irreversible'

French President Emmanuel Macron attends a welcome ceremony with Chinese President Xi Jinping outside the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, China November 6, 2019. REUTERS/Florence Lo

BEIJING (Reuters) - French President Emmanuel Macron and Chinese President Xi Jinping on Wednesday issued a joint statement reaffirming their strong support for the "irreversible" Paris Agreement on climate change, from which the U.S. announced its exit this week.

The two countries "reaffirm their strong support for the Paris Agreement, which they consider an irreversible process and a compass for strong action on the climate," the statement said.