|
|
|
Wu Bangguo (R), chairman of the Standing Committee of China's National People's Congress, the country's top legislature, meets with French President Nicolas Sarkozy in Beijing, capital of China, Nov. 26, 2007. |
China will continue to push forward its relationship with France and lift bilateral relations to a new stage, China's top legislator Wu Bangguo said here Monday.
Wu, chairman of the Standing Committee of China's National People's Congress (NPC), said China has a set policy to pursue friendly relations with France. China will expand cooperation with France in such fields as economy and trade according to the principles of equality and mutual benefit.
Wu made the remarks when meeting with visiting French President Nicolas Sarkozy in the Great Hall of the People in Beijing Monday afternoon.
Wu said over the years China and France have always shown mutual respect, treated each other on equal terms and carried out mutually beneficial cooperation despite differences in their social systems and levels of economic development.
The two countries are strategic partners in political terms, cooperative partners in economic terms and partners of exchange in cultural fields, Wu said.
He said the two countries have shown mutual understanding and support on each other's major concerns. China appreciates France's adherence to the one-China policy and its opposition to "Taiwan independence".
Wu said in the fields of economy and trade, bilateral cooperation have born rich fruits in such areas as civil aviation, nuclear energy and hydropower. The two countries share huge potential in cooperation in such areas as environment protection, high technology and small- and medium-sized enterprises.
Wu said China and France hold the same or similar views on major international issues and maintain contact and consultations.
Sarkozy said China's development means opportunities rather than a threat to the world. He said France supports China's peaceful development. France sticks to the one-China policy and recognizes that both Taiwan and Tibet are inseparable parts of China, Sarkozy said.
Sarkozy expressed his willingness to join efforts with the Chinese side to push forward the French-Chinese strategic cooperative partnership.
Wu said in recent years, the Chinese legislature NPC has maintained close communication with the French parliament and vigorously carried out exchanges at all levels.
Deepening exchanges and cooperation between the legislatures of the two countries are conducive to enhancing understanding and trust among the parliamentarians of the two countries, Wu said.
It will also help improve friendship between the two peoples, promote practical cooperation in all fields and enrich the content of bilateral relations, Wu said.
Exchanges between the legislatures of the two countries play an irreplaceable role in advancing bilateral relations, he added.
Wu expressed his wish that the two legislatures will develop a mechanism for their exchanges and contribute more to expanding China-France relations.
Sarkozy agreed with Wu's comment and invited Wu to visit France.