Lille city and Calais region in northern France hope to enhance exchanges and cooperation with Chinese enterprises, Lille Mayor Martine Aubry said in Beijing Thursday.

Aubry said at a press conference that the friendship between China and France has a long history. In recent years, the two countries have cooperated widely in trade and economy.

She said the investment of French enterprises in China continues to increase as time passes, adding that France welcomes more Chinese partners in the fields of economy, scientific research and culture to invest in the European market.

Aubry said Lille is an important industrial base of France and also capital of the Calais region. The Lille Council for the Promotion of International Trade has already established a service department for administrative procedures so as to help Chinese entrepreneurs to invest in Europe.

She noted Lille is also a major city marking the Chinese Culture Year, a year-long show of Chinese culture in France. Lille will conduct many cultural activities with Chinese characteristics in the coming year, giving French people a greater understanding of ancient China and modern China, she said.

(Xinhua News Agency October 17, 2003)