Visiting Chinese President Hu Jintao said Tuesday that the joint
declaration he and his French counterpart Jacques Chirac signed
will play an important role in boosting Sino-French ties in the
future.
Speaking at a joint press conference held after talks with
Chirac, Hu said the declaration reviewed the growth of the
Sino-French comprehensive strategic partnership established since
1997.
The declaration also put forward the steps to boost cooperation
in the political, economic, military, cultural, scientific and
technological fields and set the direction for coordination and
dialogue in major international affairs, he added.
Hu expressed his belief that the declaration will play an
important role in promoting the Sino-French relations in the
future.
For his part, Chirac said the two sides have started a process
that will increase exchanges between the two countries, and France
is willing to promote the exchanges with China.
The French president said he believed that the bilateral
economic and trade ties can be promoted with the guidelines the two
sides set, including measures to encourage business between French
and Chinese enterprises and boost cooperation in areas like
infrastructure, nuclear energy, railway and aviation.
Hu said he had exchanged in-depth views with Chirac during their
talks on major regional and international issues and they reached
consensus on a wide range of issues.
They also agreed that in such a complicated international
situation, China and France should intensify coordination and
cooperation to meet the challenges and contribute to the
realization of lasting world peace and common prosperity, Hu
said.
Hu also said the Sino-French relations have been consolidated
and deepened in various aspects due to the joint efforts of their
leaders since the two countries established diplomatic ties 40
years ago.
On Wednesday, Hu will make a stopover at the European aircraft
manufacturer Airbus in the southern French city of Toulouse before
his visit to Egypt.
The Chinese president revealed late yesterday that China
Southern Airlines recently agreed to buy 21 Airbus aircraft.
According to a survey published in Sunday's edition of the
newspaper Le Journal du Dimanche, 85 percent of the French
public want trade relations to improve between the two countries,
and 68 percent say they have a good impression of China. The survey
was conducted last December.
Tuesday?afternoon (local time), Hu became the first Asian
leader to address the National Assembly, the lower house of the
French parliament.
Hu hailed the sound development of Sino-French relations and
called on all peace-loving peoples and nations in the world to join
hands in safeguarding world peace and promoting common
development.
(Sources?from Xinhua News Agency and China
Daily?January 28, 2004)