He Guoqiang, a senior official of the Communist Party of China (CPC), on Monday exchanged views with Bernard Accoyer, speaker of the French National Assembly, on bilateral ties.

He said Sino-French relations have survived ups and downs in international situation and maintained a leading role among China' s relations with major Western countries ever since the establishment of bilateral diplomatic ties.

The smooth development in the relations between China and France as well as the progressive exchanges between legislatures of the two countries have exerted an active role in advancing bilateral cooperation, He added.

Noting this year as the 90th anniversary of the founding of the Communist Party of China (CPC), He recalled the speech made by Chinese President Hu Jintao at a commemorating meeting in Beijing, in which he reviewed the history of CPC and the lessons it acquired over the years.

He briefed the host on the structure of the CPC and the function of the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection of the CPC, of which He is the secretary, in response to an inquiry of the French legislator, who congratulated the 90th birthday of CPC and spoke highly of the achievement made in bilateral relations.

Accoyer said closer ties between the two states accord with the will of both peoples. Speaking of his visit to China earlier this year, Accoyer expressed satisfaction at the frequent exchanges of high-level visits between the legislatures of the two countries and the fruitful results in various fields.

Accoyer said He's visit is significant and would inject fresh vigor into the comprehensive strategic partnership between France and China.

He started his five-nation overseas trip in France on Saturday. He met with French legislative and state leaders as well as business representatives in Paris Monday.

At a dinner hosted by French and Chinese business leaders in his honor, He said business and trade cooperation constituted a pivotal basis for Sino-French relations, and acted as a key source of momentum for sustainable development of bilateral ties.

Facing a new situation in the world, China would like to work with France to deepen mutual trade collaboration and promote both peoples' welfare, He said.

With the above target, He laid out four suggestions: expand bilateral trade; intensify cooperation in traditional sectors such as nuclear, aerospace and railways; closer coordination in new fields, such as energy, environmental protection and bio- technology; increase mutual investment.

The dinner was also addressed by Jean-Pascal Tricoire, the president of France-China Committee; Fu Ziying, China's deputy minister of commerce; and Pierre Lellouche, French Secretary of State for Foreign Trade.