China warmly welcomes French President Nicolas Sarkozy on a state visit next month, which will "be a great event for China-France relations", Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi said at a joint press conference with his French counterpart yesterday.

Yang and French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner discussed the preparations for Sarkozy's visit, and agreed that it would definitely achieve great results.

A lot of agreements will be inked between France and China during Sarkozy's visit in areas such as energy, transportation and education, Kouchner said.

The French foreign minister is in China to pave the way for Sarkozy's visit, the first since he assumed presidency in May.

During their talks, Yang said China is ready to go along with France to deepen strategic dialogue, expand mutually beneficial cooperation and have closer consultation and coordination on major international issues.

The two foreign ministers agreed, as two of the five permanent members of the UN Security Council, to strengthen comprehensive strategic partnership for the benefit of both sides. Such a development will be beneficial to global peace, stability and development, too.

On the development of ties between China and the European Union (EU), Yang said their relationship had matured after 30 years of cooperation.

"The two sides share broad common interests in intensifying mutual political trust, expanding economic and trade cooperation, jointly tackling the challenges of climate change and combating traditional and non-traditional security threat," Yang said.

Kouchner ensured Yang that France would double its efforts to solve the pending China-EU problems after his country assumed the rotating presidency of the EU in July 2008.

On the Taiwan question, Kouchner said France follows the one-China policy. He said EU foreign policy chief Javier Solana had made a statement on behalf of EU countries opposing Taiwan authorities' attempt to hold a referendum to move the UN for membership. "France supports the position (of Solana)," Kouchner said.

Yang and Kouchner also exchanged views on regional and international matters such as the nuclear issues on the Korean Peninsula and in Iran, the situation in Myanmar, climate change and the Darfur and other issues in Africa.

(China Daily November 1, 2007)