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BEIJING (Reuters) - Chinese Premier Li Keqiang told French Prime Minister Edouard Philippe on Monday that China was planning to buy lots of planes this year and is willing to continue talks with France on buying Airbus AIR.PA aircraft.

Li made the comments in front of reporters at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing.

Both China and the European Union are locked in their own trade disputes with the United States, and China has been seeking common ground with the EU in opposing what Beijing sees as U.S. protectionism.