Wu Bangguo (R), chairman of the Standing Committee of China's National People's Congress, meets with Former French Prime Minister Jean-Pierre Raffarin in Beijing, capital of China, on June 7, 2010. (Xinhua/Huang Jingwen)
BEIJING, June 7 (Xinhua) -- China's top legislator Wu Bangguo met here Monday with former French Prime Minister Jean-Pierre Raffarin, vowing to advance bilateral ties between the two nations.
Wu, chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress (NPC), spoke highly of Raffarin's efforts to promote the healthy and stable development of China-France relations.
China and France, both influential nations, enjoy a sound strategic basis for bilateral ties and cooperate widely, he said.
China-France ties, which have always been at the forefront of China's relations with Western nations, have many important opportunities to develop, Wu noted.
He said China will work with France to increase exchange between governments, parliaments, political parties and the two peoples.
Wu said China hopes to deepen cooperation with France in nuclear power, aviation and spaceflight to help push forward the bilateral strategic partnership.
Raffarin said he was glad to see France-China ties back on the track of healthy development. The smooth development of bilateral ties is not only in the best interests of the two nations, but also helpful for a harmonious, multipolar world.
China's continuous economic growth has injected vitality into the world economy, Raffarin said, noting that France hopes to increase cooperation with China in politics, economics, culture and business affairs, in a bid to jointly face challenges and achieve common development.
The former French Prime Minister led a friendship delegation to China at the invitation of the Chinese People's Institute of Foreign Affairs.