The ruling parties of China and France will seize opportunities and give full play to inter-party relations, senior officials of the Communist Party of China (CPC) and Union for a Popular Movement (UMP) of France pledged Thursday in Beijing.

"China and France shall take inter-party ties as the bridge between the two countries, enhance cooperation, strengthen dialogue and have sincere exchanges on bilateral, regional and international issues of common concern," said Wang Jiarui, head of the International Department of CPC Central Committee.

"The two parties shall work to increase consensus and further cement the political and social basis for friendly relations between the two nations," Wang said to Xavier Bertrand, UMP general secretary.

The two parties briefed each other on their domestic situations and exchanged opinions especially on enhancing inter-party relations.

Both agreed that the development of China, France and the bilateral relations were in a important stage. The two parties vowed to play a bigger role in the development of healthy bilateral relations.

After the talks, both parties signed a memorandum of exchanges, cooperation and understanding.