Chinese President Hu Jintao on Monday morning held talks with his French counterpart Nicolas Sarkozy in the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, after which 20-odd cooperation documents were signed.

 

The China-France relationship has entered a new stage, with deepening strategic dialogue and political mutual trust, Hu told Sarkozy, adding the two countries have maintained close consultation and coordination on multilateral affairs and key international issues.

 

The Chinese government strongly emphasizes developing friendly relations with France, and always handles the bilateral relations from a strategic and long-term perspective, Hu said.

 

Sarkozy, on a three-day state visit to China, said that France has noticed the peace initiative in Hu's report to the 17th National Congress of the Communist Party of China.

 

He said France is opposed to Taiwan independence and Taiwan's planned referendum on entry into the United Nations was "unjustified".

 

France held that there is only one China in the world, and Taiwan is an integral part of China, which is the general position of the international community, Sarkozy said.

 

Any unilateral initiative is ineffective and unjustified, especially the planned referendum, the French President said.

 

In his report, Hu for the first time talked about a peace agreement across the Taiwan Straits, calling for discussion of a formal end to the state of hostility between the two sides on the basis of the one-China principle.

 

Hu appreciated the French President's contribution towards promoting the traditional friendship between China and France, his adherence to the one-China policy and support for China's peaceful unification.

 

During the talks, Hu has proposed greater cooperation with France on nuclear energy, aviation and aerospace as part of a four-point plan for the development of relations between the two countries.

 

The first point in the proposal was intended to deepen bilateral political relations and enhance strategic mutual trust.

 

The two sides should maintain high-level exchanges and contacts, continue to strengthen important dialogue and consultation mechanism building, and understand and support each other on major issues concerning each other's national interests.

 

The second was to further strengthen multi-lateral cooperation to jointly meet challenges.

 

The Chinese side will conduct strategic dialogue and cooperation with the French side, and strengthen consultation and coordination on global issues and in major international affairs, so as to jointly push forward the building of a harmonious world with lasting peace and common prosperity.

 

The third was to further expand bilateral economic and trade cooperation.

 

The Chinese side will enhance cooperation with the French side in such fields as nuclear energy, civil aviation and aerospace, railways, finance, telecommunications, environmental protection, agriculture, small and medium-sized enterprises.

 

The two sides should properly address the concerns of each other in the principles of dialogues on an equal footing, friendly consultations and reciprocity.

 

The fourth is to further bilateral cultural exchanges. The two sides should continue to promote exchanges and cooperation in culture, education, science, technology, sports and tourism.

 

After the talks, the two presidents agreed to release a joint statement on combating climate changes, and attended the signing ceremony of over 20 documents on cooperation concerning environmental protection, nuclear energy, civil aviation, communication, education, health care, investment, city planning, etc., and together met with the press.

 

Before the meeting, Hu held a welcoming ceremony for Sarkozy.

 

Sarkozy arrived in Beijing Sunday for his first state visit to China since taking office in May.

 

(Xinhua News Agency November 26, 2007)