China and France have agreed to work for closer cooperation and deepen the comprehensive strategic partnership between the two countries in a joint declaration signed in Paris on Tuesday.

The two countries agree that since 1997, high level political dialogues between the two countries have been fruitful, dialogues and consultations at all levels have flourished and the scope of cooperation has been further extended.

The comprehensive strategic partnership between China and France is a major part of Sino-Europe relations, which has evolved into a postive factor on the international arena.

China and France reaffirm their determination to develop their bilateral relations from a strategic viewpoint and in the long-term interests of the two countries and continue to maintain the momentum of the exchange of high-level visits.

The two countries agree to enhance trade and economic cooperation and promote the development of partnership in such key industrial sectors as energy, aeronautics and astronautics, railway and urban highway transportation systems.

To provide convenience for small- and medium-size enterprises from both countries to participate in the bilateral trade system, the two sides will strive to assist small- and medium-size enterprises in gaining access to more information and promote the development of partnership between small- and medium-size enterprises from the two countries.

The two countries agree to strengthen cooperation in agriculture and in the industry of sideline farm produce processing.

Environment is another concern of China and France expressed inthe joint declaration. They pledge to intensify environmental cooperation, including cooperation in dealing with climate change under the framework of United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change and the Kyoto Protocol.

The two countries are satisfied with their two-decade partnership in the field nuclear power generation and are willing to make continued efforts to promote and develop cooperation in this field.

From the perspective of sutainable development, development in the construction of nuclear power generation facilities will be conducive to ensuring safe application of energy and self-relianceon energy as well as efforts to deal with global climate changes.

China and France wish to develop coopeation in the application of nuclear energy for civilian purposes. China welcomes French efforts in bidding for the construction of nuclear power generation projects in China.

China and France wish to deepen cooperation in the fields of science, technology and cultural exchange.

The two countries reaffirm their readiness to develop cooperation in such fields as disease prevention and cure, information exchange and communications technology.

The two countries agree to set up space research and life sciences research task forces and encourage State-run and non-State-run research institutions and universities from both countries to increase contacts and develop cooperation.

China and France agree to maintain the vitality from the operation of programs of cultural-year celebrations in each other's capital cities, and strengthen the operation of activities in such fields as publication and production of audio-visual works.

In the joint declaration, China and France also agree to facilitate personnel exchanges between the two countries.

The two countries agree to encourage cooperation between universities and strengthen cooperation in language teaching. They agree to further increase the exchange of international students.

China and France agree to strengthen cooperation in judicature and in the field of home security on the basis of the inter-governmental agreement on policing between the two countries.

The two countries agree to take appropriate measures to promotethe development of two-way tourism between them in the respect of visa issuance and so on, according to the joint declaration.

(Xinhua News Agency January 28, 2004)