During a meeting between President Hu Jintao and visiting French President Jacques Chirac, China and France vowed in Beijing Thursday to step up bilateral cooperation in various fields and promote their all-round strategic partnership.
Hu and Chirac expressed their appreciation of the progress made in bilateral relations, and said that the all-round strategic partnership had opened broad prospects for Sino-French relations in the new century.
They agreed to push forward the bilateral partnership.
Hu said that the last few years had witnessed a series of successful bilateral exchanges that had built political mutual trust and understanding.
He said that trade volume had quadrupled in ten years, and there had been fruitful scientific and technological exchanges and multiple cultural activities.
Activities such as the Year of China and Year of France and youth exchanges have helped promote understanding and friendship between the two peoples, noted Hu.
The Chinese side appreciates the French side's one-China stand, opposition to "Taiwan independence" in any form, and support for China's peaceful reunification, said Hu.
He said today's Sino-French relations are an example for friendly cooperation among countries with different historical backgrounds, cultural traditions and development stages.
Chirac, who arrived here on Wednesday afternoon on a four-day state visit, spoke highly of the rapid growth of bilateral relations in recent years.
He pointed to in-depth strategic dialogues, colorful cultural and youth exchanges and close coordination in international affairs.
He said bilateral relations are unprecedentedly close and trustful, reiterating that France firmly adheres to the one-China policy and is opposed to "Taiwan independence," and this position will not change.
Hu said the Chinese side will honor the Sino-French all-round friendship, strategic cooperation and common development.
Hu listed four points for furthering the bilateral partnership.
The first is to maintain contacts between leaders of the two countries and at various levels, strengthen the strategic dialogue mechanism, actively implement follow-up of the local government cooperation forum, and continue to carry out youth exchanges.
The second is to deepen bilateral economic and trade cooperation, especially in such key fields as energy, aviation, aerospace and communications, and strive to realize the bilateral trade goal of US$40 billion ahead of schedule.
The third is to carry out more cultural, educational and judicial exchanges, and initiate negotiations on a bilateral extradition treaty.
The fourth is to strengthen coordination and cooperation in international affairs so as to jointly meet global challenges and push for the establishment of a harmonious world with lasting peace and common prosperity.
Chirac said France attaches great importance to bilateral cooperation and hopes to make the bilateral partnership exemplary. The French side will maintain exchanges and consultations at various levels with China.
He said the French side will continue to contribute to China's modernization and is confident about the prospects for cooperation in nuclear power, aviation and railways.
The French side hopes to expand cooperation with China in telecommunications, finance, agriculture and environmental protection, and seeks cooperation opportunities in relation to the2008 Olympic Games in Beijing and the 2010 World Expo in Shanghai, said Chirac.
He said France advocates more cultural, judicial and youth exchanges between the two countries.
He said the French side will maintain coordination and cooperation in international affairs and make joint efforts to build world peace and stability based on international law.
Hu said the Chinese government attaches great importance to Sino-EU relations, and appreciates France's attitude and views both on lifting the ban on EU arms sales to China and on acknowledging China's full market economy status.
Hu said an improved Sino-EU all-round strategic partnership would help safeguard world peace, help build a harmonious world and promote common development.
The Chinese side will make concerted efforts with EU countries including France to promote the Sino-EU partnership.
The two leaders also exchanged views on international issues of common concern.
Chirac voiced his appreciation of China's constructive role in pushing for a peaceful solution to the Korean Peninsula nuclear issue and the Iranian nuclear issue, and in relation to the Mid-East peace process.
Chirac said the continuous development of EU-China relations is in the EU's interest and France will work hard to see this happen.
He said EU's ban on arms sale to China is no longer appropriate in the context of the development of EU-China relations, and France will continue to push for the early lifting of this ban.
He also said France supports the EU's acknowledgement of China's full market economy status.
After the talks, the two heads of state signed a joint statement and attended a signing ceremony for contracts covering science, technology, energy, railways, transportation, aviation and aerospace.
This is Chirac's fourth visit to China as French president.
Before leaving France, Chirac said that a France-China partnership is "at the heart of France's foreign affairs," as "everybody understands that China is a key player in the world's future."
Besides Beijing, Chirac will also visit the ancient Chinese city of Xi'an in Shaanxi Province, and Wuhan, capital city of central province Hubei, where he will attend a ceremony on Friday to lay a foundation stone for the new PSA Peugeot-Citroen factory.
(Xinhua News Agency October 27, 2006)
Premier: Sino-French Relations, a Tree Full of Life
