China News Agency, Paris, February 21 (Reporter Li Yang) French President Macron had a dialogue with the public in the suburbs of Paris on the 21st local time, making it clear that French officials will continue to promote the reform of the retirement system, and he urged people to accept longer working hours.

　　This is the first face-to-face direct dialogue between Macron and the public on relevant issues since the country announced the retirement system reform plan last month. The dialogue took place at a well-known logistics wholesale market on the outskirts of Paris. Go out early and return late, work overtime.

　　Macron said that we all know that the average working time must be increased to create more wealth for the country; otherwise, the funds for the retirement system will not be sustainable.

According to the retirement system reform plan, France plans to delay the statutory retirement age from 62 to 64.

Polls show that a majority of the population opposes raising the retirement age.

　　Macron reiterated that delaying the retirement age is the way to safeguard the retirement system.

If people are able to work longer hours, there is an opportunity to make the country great again and make it possible to fund education, health and more.

Macron does not believe that there are "other options" for the reform of the retirement system.

　　Macron believes that accepting the reform of the retirement system should be regarded as "common sense".

He called for a real social debate on reforms in the current "difficult context" of inflation.

He also believes that inflation may "peak" in the first half of this year.

　　Macron had previously only made brief comments on the reform of the retirement system through social media, or briefly responded to relevant questions during his visits.

Much of the interpretation of the pension reform has been undertaken by Prime Minister Borne and Labor Minister Dussop, among others.

　　The deliberation of the draft law on the reform of the retirement system in the National Assembly (the lower house of parliament) temporarily ended last weekend, and the relevant draft law has been sent to the Senate for further deliberation.

France's main trade unions are scheduled to organize new large-scale strikes and demonstrations on March 7 to oppose the reform of the retirement system.

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