French President Nicolas Sarkozy arrived in Beijing Sunday
afternoon for his first state visit to China since taking office in
May, emphasizing close bilateral links.
"Our two countries enjoy very close political ties and energetic
economic links," the French president told a business forum on
Sunday evening.
He expressed confidence about future bilateral cooperation in
politics, economy, technology and other fields.
He said that he appreciated China's constructive role in
international affairs, especially its positive contribution to the
Korean Peninsula nuclear issue and the Darfur issue.
The 52-year-old Sarkozy encouraged more French companies to
invest in China and explore win-win cooperation with their Chinese
counterparts.
Sarkozy's arrival in Beijing was preceded by a brief trip to the
former imperial capital of Xi'an in northwest China to visit the
Terra Cotta (Qin Dynasty) Museum, a world-renowned site. He mixed
with local residents and was escorted into the trenches to view the
clay soldiers.
In the afternoon, Chinese Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi at the Beijing Capital
International Airport warmly welcomed Sarkozy, who was accompanied
by a 200-member delegation of government officials, entrepreneurs
and journalists.
During his stay in China, Chinese President Hu Jintao will hold talks with Sarkozy. China's
top legislator Wu Bangguo and Premier Wen Jiabao will also meet with him.
Sarkozy also is scheduled to deliver a speech at Beijing's
prestigious Tsinghua University and view Beijing's preparations for
the 2008 Olympics.
Sarkozy's three-day trip will also take him into the economic
powerhouse of Shanghai, where he is scheduled to meet with French
entrepreneurs who are doing business there.
Prior to his departure from Paris, Sarkozy told Xinhua that he
would like to work with Chinese President Hu Jintao on many topics
of mutual concern such as the environment, economic affairs and
trade relations.
He said that he also wanted to discuss how France and China
could make bigger contributions to global security.
Sarkozy said China was the first Asian country he has visited
since becoming president. He reiterated France's support for the
one-China policy.
Sarkozy said he attached importance to stronger China-France
economic and trade ties, saying that mutual benefit and cooperation
should be the core of the ties.
He said one important task was to encourage enterprises of all
sizes from both countries to work together.
Sarkozy's trip comes days before high-level talks between China
and European Union monetary officials and a China-EU summit that is
scheduled for Wednesday in Beijing.
(Xinhua News Agency November 26, 2007)
