Vice President Xi Jinping expressed the hope to further boost exchanges between the Communist Party of China (CPC) and the French Union for a Popular Movement (UMP)?in Beijing on?Friday.

"As ruling parties of respective countries, the CPC and UMP both face the challenges from domestic reform and economic globalization," Xi told Patrick Devedjian, UMP general secretary, during their meeting in Beijing.

Chinese Vice President Xi Jinping (R) shakes hands with Patrick Devedjian, general secretary of French Union for a Popular Movement (UMP), in Beijing, capital of China, on October 17, 2008.(Yao Dawei/Xinhua Photo]?

"We would like to further enhance exchanges and mutual trust to push forward the healthy and stable development of Sino-French ties," Xi noted.

He said both China and France are influential countries and maintaining a good relationship complied with the fundamental interest of the two and was conducive to peace, stability and prosperity of the world.

China valued the traditional friendship with France, and has always handled bilateral ties from a strategic height and a long-term perspective.

Xi also expressed appreciation for France's support to improving the Sino-EU relations.

Devedjian said China's development would benefit the world, and the UMP would strengthen relations with the CPC and the Chinese government to contribute to the development of China-France relations.??

(Xinhua News Agency October 18, 2008)