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Chinese President Hu Jintao (2nd R) and visiting French President Jacques Chirac (1st R) meet together with Sino-French young scientific and technical workers in Beijing, Oct. 26, 2006. [Xinhua Photo]
| China and France on Thursday signed a joint statement and 14 cooperation agreements ranging from aviation, nuclear power utilization to prevention of infectious diseases.
Chinese President Hu Jintao and visiting French President Jacques Chirac both agreed that Sino-French relationship has become "an example" for friendly cooperation among countries with different historical backgrounds, cultural traditions and development stages.
Chirac, who arrived here on Wednesday afternoon on a four-day state visit, held talks with Hu for two hours in the Great Hall of the People before witnessing the signing of a series of agreements, including an over arching document titled the Sino-French Joint Statement.
The 14 agreements, include a framework agreement and a letter of intent for 150 Airbus A320 aircraft and a contract worth 1.2 billion euros (1.5 billion dollars) for the delivery of 500 freight locomotives from Alstom SA of France to China.
The multi-billion-dollar arrangement represents the largest deal in the history of the Chinese aviation industry.
Acknowledging the bilateral economic and trade cooperation progressed rapidly with trade volume being quadrupled in ten years, the two presidents expressed their satisfaction with bilateral relations that are unprecedentedly close and full of trust.
The two sides decided in the joint statement to expand the strategic exchange and cooperation to seven key fields which are energy, aerospace and aviation, railway, telecommunication, financial service, agriculture, food processing and environmental protection.
According to the statement, China and France decide to forge closer cooperation on the nuclear power utilization which includes the establishment of the joint ventures in the agreed fields concerning the nuclear power generation.
The two leaders are also satisfied with the increasing exchanges between Chinese and French businesses, especially those among the small and medium-sized enterprises (SME), promising to continue to boost the exchanges between the two businesses, especially those among the SMEs.
Accompanying Chirac is a 30-member French business delegation keen to boost economic and trade ties between the two countries in key fields such as aeronautics, nuclear energy, railway transportation, telecommunications and financial services.
This is Chirac's fourth and probably the last visit to China as French president as his presidency will come to an end in 2007. He is widely regarded as a friendly policy-maker and active promoter of ties with China.
In the statement, the two leaders also expressed serious concern in the joint statement over the nuclear test announced by the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) on Oct. 9, saying the test goes against the goal of denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula, as well as efforts of the international community to strengthen international non-proliferation.
The statement said that the two countries support the Security Council Resolution 1718, and urge the DPRK to abide by its commitment to denuclearization of the peninsula.
The two sides hope all parties will stick to peaceful resolution of the nuclear issue through dialogue and consultation, and strive for an early resumption of the six-party talks, the joint statement said.
China and France also urged the European Union (EU) in the statement to lift its arms embargo against China that has been in place since 1989 and grant China market economy status.
"The two sides believe that the European Union should take the EU-China expanding partnership into full consideration, most notably by lifting the arms embargo which is no longer pertinent to the present situation," said the statement.
The two leaders vowed to continue their efforts to deepen the comprehensive strategic partnership between China and the European Union, according to the joint statement.
They also agreed that, in order to solve the problems that have emerged in the China-EU trade relations, both China and the European Union should conduct dialogue and negotiations based on an equal footing and in accordance with WTO regulations.
Chinese President Hu Jintao (L) presides over a welcoming ceremony in honor of French President Jacques Chirac at the square outside the east gate of the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, Oct. 26, 2006. [Xinhua Photo] |
Chinese President Hu Jintao (L) presides over a welcoming ceremony in honor of French President Jacques Chirac at the square outside the east gate of the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, Oct. 26, 2006. [Xinhua Photo] |
Chinese President Hu Jintao (2nd, L) presides over a welcoming ceremony in honor of French President Jacques Chirac (3rd, L)at the square outside the east gate of the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, Oct. 26, 2006. [Xinhua Photo] |
Chinese President Hu Jintao (R) presides over a welcoming ceremony in honor of French President Jacques Chirac at the square outside the east gate of the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, Oct. 26, 2006. [Xinhua Photo] | Related Stories:
China, France vow to step up partnership
China and France vowed here Thursday to step up bilateral cooperation in various fields and promote their all-round strategic partnership.
In talks with his visiting French counterpart Jacques Chirac, Chinese President Hu Jintao said that the last few years had witnessed a series of successful bilateral exchanges that had built political mutual trust and understanding.
Hu and Chirac expressed their appreciation of the progress made in bilateral relations, and said that the all-round strategic partnership had opened broad prospects for Sino-French relations in the new century. Full story
Premier Wen: Sino-French relations, a tree full of life
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Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao (R) meets with French President Jacques Chirac in Beijing, Oct. 26, 2006. [Xinhua Photo]
| The Bilateral relations between China and France are growing well, like a tree full of life, Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao said Thursday when meeting visiting French President Jacques Chirac.
Wen acknowledged that France was the first Western country to forge diplomatic relations at ambassadorial level with China, and the first in the world to establish an all-round strategic partnership, hold strategic dialogue and host reciprocal culture years with China."These are proofs of the French leader's foresight and sagacity", Wen noted.
French President Jacques Chirac starts China visit
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Chinese Foreign Minister Li Zhaoxing(R2) welcomes French President Jacques Chirac(L2) at the airport in Beijing, China, Oct. 25, 2006. Chirac starts his four-day state visit to China, focusing on partnership, trade, and China-EU relations. [Xinhua Photo]
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French President Jacques Chirac arrived in Beijing Wednesday afternoon, starting his four-day state visit to China.
He is scheduled to hold talks with Chinese President Hu Jintao, and meet with Chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress (NPC) Wu Bangguo and Premier Wen Jiabao.
This is Chirac's fourth visit to China as French president. "The two sides will exchange views on bilateral relations to further the China-France partnership, and also discuss other regional and international issues of mutual concern," a source with the Chinese Foreign Ministry said.
Issues concerning the growing trade ties between the two countries are also on the agenda, the source added. Before his departure for China, Chirac highlighted the fact that a France-China partnership is "at the heart of France's foreign affairs," as "everyone can see that China will play a key role in the world's future."
"For its part, China understands that France is a constant and independent partner who is willing to work with China to build a balanced world," said Chirac, in a written interview with Xinhua on Monday.
A day before Chirac's arrival in Beijing, the European Union (EU), in which France actively promotes China-friendly policies, issued a policy paper promising to continue to seek "engagement" and "partnership" with China.
Accompanying Chirac is a 30-member French business delegation keen to boost economic and trade ties between the two countries in key fields such as aeronautics, nuclear energy, railway transportation, telecommunications and financial services.
France has always been a friendly policy-maker and active promoter of ties with China among EU members, and with the release of the policy paper, "I believe China-EU relations will be another key topic on the agenda," said Mei Xinyu, a researcher with the Chinese Academy of International Trade and Economic Cooperation.
Local analysts believe it will probably be Chirac's last visit to China as French president as his presidency will come to an end in 2007.
"Chirac has dedicated most of his political career to boosting Sino-French relations and, even if this visit is his last, it will still be significant both for bilateral relations and for relations between China and the EU", said Liu Jiansheng, an expert on China-France relations with the Chinese Institute of Contemporary International Relations.
Besides Beijing, Chirac will also visit ancient China's capital Xi'an in Shaanxi Province, and Wuhan, capital city of central China's Hubei Province, where he will attend a ceremony on Friday to mark the start of construction of a second PSA Peugeot-Citroen factory.
Chirac is also expected to give a speech in China's prestigious Peking University during his stay in Beijing.
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French President Jacques Chirac (front, L) arrives in Beijing, China, Oct. 25, 2006. [Xinhua Photo]
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Chirac: partnership with China "at the heart of France's foreign affairs"
French President Jacques Chirac has said that forging a France-China partnership is "at the heart of France's foreign affairs," as "everybody in his country knows that the world's future lies greatly with China."
"China is also clear that it can always find in France its partner, who is independent and who is willing to work together with China in building a balanced world," said Chirac, in a written interview with Xinhua on Monday.
French President Chirac to visit China
French President Jacques Chirac will pay a state visit to China from Oct. 25 to 28, at the invitation of Chinese President Hu Jintao.
Foreign Ministry Spokesman Liu Jianchao announced this at a regular press conference in Beijing Tuesday. | 
