China-France ties back on right track
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Chinese-French relations, which have witnessed setbacks in recent years, are again on the right track as shown by French President Nicolas Sarkozy's state visit to China.
President Hu Jintao, top legislator Wu Bangguo and Premier Wen Jiabao all have met with Sarkozy, who arrived in China on Wednesday for a three-day visit.
Leaders of the two countries exchanged views on improving the China-France all-round strategic partnership as well as international and regional issues of mutual concern.
Sarkozy also traveled to Shanghai to attend the opening ceremony of the 2010 World Expo on Friday.
The French president's high-profile visit to China is a remarkable event on warming and improving bilateral ties, which were spoiled by Sarkozy's meeting with the Dalai Lama in December 2008.
Ahead of Sarkozy's visit, Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Jiang Yu said earlier this month that "this year, China-France relationship is facing a new opportunity for development."
Jiang expressed hope that the two countries would keep increasing political trust, deepening mutually beneficial cooperation and stepping up coordination on major international and regional issues in a bid to push forward bilateral ties in a healthy and stable manner.
At a joint press conference with Sarkozy on Wednesday, Hu said China-France ties have "opened a new page."
Hu and Sarkozy held about 50 minutes of private talks before starting formal, large-scope talks that Hu described as "candid, friendly and productive" and reaching "many important agreements."
During his talks with Sarkozy, Hu made a four-point proposal to further upgrade the Chinese-French comprehensive strategic partnership - that is to maintain high-level exchanges and dialogue and consultations,to boost pragmatic cooperation, to strengthen cultural exchanges and to meet local and global challenges together for a peaceful and stable international environment.
Sarkozy said China is a very important strategic partner of France and both countries need to cooperate closely on major global issues such as economic growth and maintaining world peace. He said France is willing to work with China to beef up cooperation and exchanges in various fields.
The French president said there is only one China and that Taiwan and Tibet are both part of China. This is the policy France has been adhering to since French-Chinese diplomatic ties were established in 1964. There is no change in the policy.
Wu, chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress, who met with Sarkozy on Thursday, said a healthy and stable China-France relationship is in accordance with the interests of both countries.
Meanwhile, Wen told Sarkozy on Friday that he hoped the two nations deepen their mutual understanding and trust.
"This will offer a solid political guarantee for the growth of China-France ties," Wen said, applauding Sarkozy's reiteration on respecting China's core interests and major concerns.
In an interview with Xinhua on Tuesday, Sarkozy said he wants to enhance bilateral relations at all levels because China has an indispensable role to play on the global stage.
The French president said some misunderstandings between the two countries belongs in the past and he holds firm confidence in China's future.
"This is why I made the strengthening of the French-Chinese partnership a priority of our foreign policy," Sarkozy said.
He said relations between the two countries has warmed and France would like to further ties with China "in all dimensions."
Meanwhile, former French Prime Minister Jean-Pierre Raffarin said in an interview with French newspaper La Tribune on Tuesday that bilateral ties between the two countries have had an obvious recovery and their comprehensive strategic partnership was strengthened in the past year.
France, which has maintained all-round exchanges with China, should seize the current opportunity to work together with China for a multipolar world, Raffarin said.
