Visiting Chinese Foreign Minister Tang Jiaxuan Thursday met with his French counterpart Dominique de Villepin in Paris on bilateral relations and international issues of common interest.
"I wish to establish good working relations with Mr. de Villepin so that we can maintain good communication and coordination of our positions on bilateral affairs and important international issues," said Tang after congratulating his French counterpart of his nomination following elections in France.
"Sino-French relations have been developing for more than 40 years since the establishment of diplomatic relations. A full-range partnership is being built based on the decision of Presidents Jiang Zemin and Jacques Chirac in 1997, which constituted a milestone in our bilateral ties," said Tang.
"In recent years, we have seen more high-level visits and government and social exchanges, which played a key role in promoting our cooperation," said Tang.
"China attaches great importance to the role of France in European and world affairs and is willing to develop stable and long-term partnership with France," he added.
"As permanent members of the UN Security Council, both China and France have great responsibilities in international affairs. We should develop our ties to a higher level in keeping with our own interests and world peace, stability and development," said the Chinese foreign minister.
On his part, de Villepin said the development of relations with China is a key component of the French foreign policy.
"France attaches importance to the influences of China in international affairs and is willing to build closer cooperation and coordination with China in international organizations," he said.
"France will work for a full-range development of its relations with China by further expanding exchange and cooperation in economy, science and technology, education and culture," said de Villepin.
(Xinhua News Agency July 5, 2002)
