Chinese President Hu Jintao on Tuesday called for the further development of China's relations with France, Portugal, and Europe as a whole.

In a written interview with France's Le Figaro newspaper and Portugal's Lusa News Agency, President Hu, due to visit the two countries from Nov. 4 to 7, answered questions regarding the development of relations and other issues.

Since the two countries established diplomatic ties 46 years ago, China and France have conducted remarkable cooperation in various fields, Hu said.

Now, at a time when the international situation is undergoing fundamental and complicated changes, it is necessary for the two countries, both permanent members of the UN Security Council and shouldering great responsibility in world affairs, to add new content to their ties.

China is ready to hold a sincere dialogue with France to enhance understanding and trust, mutual respect and fair play to maintain the sound and stable development of bilateral ties.

China would like to expand its trade with France, steadily promote bilateral cooperation in such traditional fields as nuclear power and aerospace, and actively explore cooperation in such areas as energy conservation and environmental protection, information technology, high-end manufacturing, new energy, and new material, the Chinese president said.

More importantly, their bilateral cooperation should go beyond simple trade and investment relations, but grow into that between equal cooperation partners.

The two countries, both boasting a rich culture, should also further expand cultural and people-to-people exchanges, Hu noted.

The Chinese president also suggested the two countries strengthen strategic coordination and jointly tackle global challenges.

Hu expressed confidence that the comprehensive strategic partnership between the two countries could be taken to a higher level through joint efforts, and thus better serve the two countries and peoples.

Regarding the development of Sino-Portuguese ties, Hu said that the ties have a long history. The successful transfer of the exercise of sovereignty of Macau in 1999 was exemplary in resolving the historical issues between both countries.

In 2005, China and Portugal established a comprehensive strategic partnership, announcing a new era in their bilateral ties, with rewarding bilateral exchanges and cooperation in various fields.

China is ready to work with Portugal to enhance political mutual trust and expand exchanges, as well as explore down-to-earth cooperation, so as to promote the development of both sides and jointly cope with global challenges.

The Chinese side is confident about the future of Sino-Portuguese relations, Hu said.

Talking about the relations between China and Portuguese-speaking countries, Hu said that the economic and trade cooperation forum between the two sides has become an important platform for the common development of all the countries involved since its foundation in 2003. Trade volume between the two sides reached 77 billion U.S. dollars in 2008 compared with the 11 billion dollars in 2003.

As for China-Europe ties, the Chinese president said that the relations have stood the test of time since their establishment 35 years ago.

At present, China and Europe enjoy close, top-level communication and fruitful cooperation, Hu said.

The European Union (EU) has been China's largest trading partner for six years on end, and China has become the EU's second largest export market, with bilateral trade volume in the first three quarters this year close to 350 billion U.S. dollars, a year-on-year increase of 34.4 percent, he noted.

Bilateral cultural exchanges have been various and colorful, with the Shanghai World Expo 2010 representing an important platform for China-Europe cultural exchanges.

China attaches great importance to its ties with Europe and respects and supports the integration of Europe. Likewise, China hopes Europe will take a positive view of China's development, and respect and support China in taking a path of development which suits its own national conditions, the Chinese president said.

The two sides are supposed to respect and consider each other's core interests and major concerns.

China-Europe ties in the 21st century should be characterized by mutual trust and respect, and equality of treatment. Moreover, they should be mutually beneficial and lead to a win-win situation and common development, promoting the establishment of a fairer world political and economic order, world harmony and the progress of human civilizations.

China would like to work together with Europe to substantiate their comprehensive strategic partnership and raise their relationship to a new level, Hu said.