President Hu Jintao late on Wednesday talked with his French counterpart Nicolas Sarkozy in a previously arranged telephone call.

 

In the telephone conversation, President Hu applauded the consistent efforts President Sarkozy has made to develop China-France relations.

 

The Chinese and French peoples have maintained long-standing, friendly contacts, and France was the first Western power to establish diplomatic ties with the People's Republic of China, Hu said.

 

With bilateral relations forging ahead in recent years, the two sides have conducted all-round cooperation in various areas as well as close coordination on major issues of respective concerns, Hu said.

 

With the establishment of China-France comprehensive strategic partnership, the two countries enjoy broader prospects for cooperation, he added.

 

As the world's influential countries and permanent members of the UN Security Council, China and France share extensive consensus and common interests on many major issues, and shoulder common responsibilities as well, Hu said.

 

To further strengthen bilateral relations serves the fundamental interests of the two nations and peoples, and is conducive to lasting peace and common prosperity in the world, he said.

 

The Chinese president said that China attaches great importance to its relations with France, and is willing to work with the French side to open up a more brilliant future for the China-France comprehensive strategic partnership.

 

Sarkozy, for his part, said that China plays an important, positive role in the international environment, and many major issues could not be settled without China's participation.

 

The French government will remain committed to the development of bilateral ties, and is willing to enhance dialogue and cooperation with China, he said.

 

The French president said that Taiwan is an indispensable part of China, and France will firmly adhere to the one-China policy. President Hu expressed his appreciation for the stand.

 

The two heads of state also agreed to maintain contacts and consultations.

 

(Xinhua News Agency May 24, 2007)