Chinese President Hu Jintao (R, sitting) talks with French
President Jacques Chirac at a banquet hosted by President Hu Jintao at the Great
H
all of the People in Beijing Oct. 9, 2004. President Chirac was in China on a
five-day state visit as guest of Chinese President Hu Jintao. (Xinhua Photo)
Chinese President Hu Jintao (2nd R) and his wife Liu Yongqing
(1st R) with French President Jacques Chirac (2nd L) and his wife Bernadette
Chirac in front of the Zhengyang Gate at southern Tian'anmen Square in Beijing
Oct. 9. The Gate is bathed in the light of three colors representing that of
French national flag. Chirac was in China on a five-day state visit. (Xinhua
Photo)
Hu Jintao (R) shakes hands with Jacques Chirac.(Xinhua Photo)
President Hu Jintao (L) and President Jacques Chirac review a
guard of honor during the welcoming ceremony at the Great Hall of the People in
Beijing Oct. 9. (Xinhua photo)
Hu Jintao and Jacques Chirac. (Xinhua photo)
(Xinhua photo)
BEIJING, Oct. 9 (Xinhuanet) -- Chinese President Hu Jintao and French
President Jacques Chirac held talks at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing
Saturday afternoon, exchanging views on bilateral ties and international and
regional issues of common concern.
Both sides agreed that the important consensus on deepening bilateral
relations reached by the two leaders at the beginning ofthis year is being
fulfilled and Sino-French relations manifest new vigor and energy.
The two leaders emphasized that the Sino-French Culture Year isa pioneering
undertaking in the history of bilateral cultural exchanges and is expected to
exert profound influences on development of bilateral relations.
Both sides also agreed to further promote and deepen bilateral exchanges
and cooperation in various fields and lift to a higher level the Sino-French and
Sino-European all-around strategic partnership relations.
Sino-French relations have proceeded smoothly over the past several years,
and political trust and strategic cooperation have been strengthened, Hu said,
noting that the trade cooperation between the two countries has seen new
progress, with a drastic growth of bilateral trade volume. He added that the
exchanges in other fields have achieved fruitful results and the cooperation
ininternational and multilateral fields has also been effective.
"The Sino-French relations have entered a new stage of comprehensive and
fast development," he said.
Hu raised a four-point proposal on promoting Sino-French ties during the
talks. He suggested China and France enhance strategic dialogue and cooperation,
enhance exchange between state leaders and forge a mechanism of annual meeting
between state leaders of the two countries.
He proposed to strengthen Sino-French economic and trade ties through
cooperation in aviation, spaceflight, transportation, nuclear energy, high-tech
industry, small and medium-sized enterprises, agriculture and environmental
protection.
Hu suggested that the two countries enhance exchange and cooperation in
culture, education and science and technology, and explore new ways of
cooperation in those areas by summing up experiences of the Chinese Culture Year
in France and the French Year in China.
He also suggested that the two countries step up coordination and
cooperation in international and regional issues, promoting democracy in
international relations and diversity in mode of development.
Chirac said he was glad to visit China again. France and China have
advanced their cooperation in an all-round manner and scored encouraging
results, he said. ??The French Government firmly supports the one-China
principle and opposes any move that will lead to intensification of cross-Strait
situation or Taiwan independence, Chirac said.
He said he completely agreed to Hu's four-point proposal on developing
bilateral all-round strategic partnership relations. Hesaid France is ready to
make joint efforts with China for friendlycooperation in various fields.
Following their talks, the two presidents attended the signing ceremony on
a batch of cooperative documents. Enditem will
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