Chinese President Hu Jintao met with French President Nicolas Sarkozy in London Wednesday night.

Chinese President Hu Jintao (R) shakes hands with French President Nicolas Sarkozy during their meeting in London, Britain, on April 1, 2009. [Li Xueren/Xinhua]

"Our meeting today means a new starting point for the bilateral relations, and I hope the two sides work together to usher in a new phase in Chinese-French ties," Hu said at the start of his meeting with Sarkozy.

The two leaders were meeting ahead of a Group of 20 summit on the financial crisis, scheduled here for Thursday.

The meeting also came hours after China and France issued a press communique Wednesday, which said the two sides "attach great importance to China-France relations" and reiterated their adherence to the principle of non-interference in each other's internal affairs.

In the communique, France pledged not to support "Tibet independence" in any form.

Relations between China and France deteriorated last December when Sarkozy decided to meet with the Dalai Lama in Poland.

"Severe difficulties" had cropped up in bilateral relations a few months before, which the Chinese side did not want to see, Hu said.

"China appreciates France's latest move and feels happy about the restoration of bilateral relations," Hu said.

Sarkozy said that no matter how France-China relations change, he believed there is only one China in the world, with Taiwan and Tibet constituting inalienable parts of Chinese territory.

The French president said he was glad the two countries restored their comprehensive strategic partnership and resumed strategic dialogue.

He expressed the hope that the two countries would seek to promote the steady and harmonious development of bilateral ties in politics, economy, diplomacy and other areas.

Hu said this year marked the 45th anniversary of diplomatic relations between China and France. "The past 45 years of bilateral ties offer a profound inspiration and teach us a lot."

"First of all, it is in the fundamental interests of both nations to develop long-term stable and friendly relations, which is also conducive to world peace, stability and prosperity," Hu said.

Hu said both countries should treat and handle their bilateral ties from a strategic and long-term perspective.

It is only natural that differences exist between China and France over some issues, Hu said. Both sides should follow the principles of mutual respect, equal treatment and non-interference in each other's internal affairs, Hu said. "Both should properly handle their differences and the sensitive issues on the basis of respect for each other's core interests."

China and France, as permanent members of the United Nations Security Council, should strengthen communication and expand cooperation so as to play crucial roles in efforts to meet global challenges and make positive contributions to promoting world peace and development, Hu said.

In view of the complicated and volatile international situation and the spreading global financial crisis, both sides should adhere to the correct orientation of bilateral relations, removing obstacles and working together closely to advance bilateral ties.

Hu also called for strengthening high-level exchanges and cooperation in various areas as well as increased communication and coordination in efforts to tackle the global financial crisis.

Noting China's increasingly important role in the international economic system, Sarkozy said France would like to work with China to push for the reform of the international financial institutions.

(Xinhua News Agency April 2, 2009)