China, France to boost ties
FRANCE: China is willing to make joint efforts with France to
strengthen bilateral exchanges and cooperation and boost their strategic
coordination at a global level to better serve the two peoples and the
whole world, visiting Chinese President Hu Jintao said here Thursday
evening.
Addressing a welcoming banquet hosted by French President Nicolas
Sarkozy, Hu said the two countries should work together to propel the
development of international order in a fairer and more rational
direction, and turn the 21st century into one of true peace, development
and cooperation.
France is a great nation. In its long history, the French people,
with their intelligence and diligence, have built up a prosperous, rich
and strong country, and made remarkable economic, scientific, and
cultural achievements, making outstanding contributions to the human
civilization and progress, said the Chinese President.
The development history of the China-France ties gives eloquent proof
that countries of different ideologies, political systems and cultural
backgrounds can coexist peacefully, carry out mutually beneficial
cooperation and realize common development, as long as they respect and
treat each other as equals.
Now, at a time when the international situation is undergoing
fundamental and complicated changes, the two countries, both permanent
members of the UN Security Council and members the Group of 20 (G20),
have more common interests and broader cooperation prospect, and
therefore should work together to add new content to their ties and
exert a positive influence on the development of partnership between
great countries under new historic circumstances, Hu said.
For his part, President Sarkozy said China’s development in the last
30 years is the fastest and the greatest in human history and has
attracted worldwide attention.
President Hu’s visit to France shows the friendship and trust between
the two countries, and reflects the unique vitality, richness and
maturity of bilateral ties, he said.
Both countries’ comprehensive strategic partnership has provided a
model for today’s world and should be injected with new vitality, and
the two sides should explore more development prospects, Sarkozy added.
The cooperation between China and France is unique.
France wants to know and understand China better, and is looking
forward to establishing with China a win-win cooperative partnership, he
said.
Hu arrived here earlier in the day for his second state visit to
France. Paris, Friday, Xinhua |