Premier Wen Jiabao said that China attaches great importance to the friendly cooperation with France and appreciates the French government's positive policy towards China when he met with French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner on Wednesday.

Wen told Kouchner, who is in Beijing to prepare for a state visit to China by French President Nicolas Sarkozy, that China is ready to make joint efforts with France to strengthen contacts and coordination on major issues, deepen and expand mutual-beneficial cooperation and promote the comprehensive strategic partnership between the two countries.

Wen hailed the China-France relationship saying the relationship is in the interests of both countries which has played an important role in promoting world peace and common development.

Kouchner said China has conquered a lot of difficulties and challenges and made remarkable achievements in its reform and opening up and its modernization process.

He said the Chinese government has worked hard to improve the people's livelihood and has played a role as a responsible power in the international community, which France admires a lot.

The French foreign minister said the French government will continue to promote the development of France-China relations, adding China's development will bring more opportunities for France-China cooperation,

Kouchner arrived here Wednesday for a two-day official visit to China at the invitation of Chinese Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi.

China welcomes French President Nicolas Sarkozy to pay a state visit in late November, said Yang when meeting press with Kouchner after their talks on Wednesday.

(Xinhua News Agency November 1, 2007)