China is willing to work with France to promote long-term, healthy and steady development of bilateral relations, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Jiang Yu said Thursday.

"The Sino-French relationship is being gradually restored," said Jiang. "China wishes to make concerted efforts with France in line with the consensus reached by both leaders in London and the principles of related press communique so as to push forward the long-term, healthy and steady development of bilateral ties."

China and France issued a press communique on April 1, just hours before the two leaders met ahead of a Group of 20 summit on the global financial crisis.

Jiang said French National Assembly Speaker Bernard Accoyer would visit China in mid-April at the invitation of the National People's Congress and meet with Chinese leaders.

Chinese leaders would also meet with former French president Jacques Chirac during his visit later this month. Former French Prime Minister Jean-Pierre Raffarin is currently in Beijing to attend a Sino-French economic seminar.

"They are all old friends of the Chinese people and have always committed themselves to Sino-French friendship," Jiang said. "We will extend warm and friendly treatment to them."

(Xinhua News Agency April 9, 2009)