Chinese Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi and his French counterpart, Bernard Kouchner, met in New York on Sunday on the sidelines of the 62nd session of the United Nations General Assembly and discussed how to better bilateral cooperation.

Sino-French cooperation has witnessed sound and steady development in various fields, Yang said, noting that the two sides have made important contribution to helping solve relevant questions by maintaining good communication and coordination in major international and regional issues.

He hoped both sides would make good political preparation and related arrangements for high-level exchanges, actively advance pragmatic cooperation in economics and trade, science and technology, culture and other fields.

Yang also called for stronger bilateral cooperation in regional issues as well as global issues like the environment, climate change, energy, and African development.

Kouchner said French leaders are looking forward to visiting China to promote bilateral ties.

Noting China's constructive role in addressing regional and international issues such as Darfur, Kouchner said Paris wishes to work with the Chinese side to ensure that the world develops toward peace.

The two ministers also discussed the Iranian nuclear issue, Lebanon and other regional and international issues of mutual concern.

(Xinhua News Agency September 24, 2007)