Chinese President Hu Jintao and French President Jacques Chirac
on Monday discussed bilateral relations and major international
issues of common concern and reached broad consensus.
In their first meeting after Hu's arrival in Paris, the two
presidents spoke highly of 40 years of relations between China and
France since the two countries established full diplomatic
ties.
Hu said the relationship between China and France, which has
been enriched and broadened constantly thanks to efforts by both
sides, has developed rapidly and with marked achievements,
especially after President Jiang Zemin and President Chirac
declared the establishment of a comprehensive partnership between
the two countries in 1997.
Chirac said the two countries have made tremendous progress in
their relations in the past four decades.
France is willing to continue to improve, consolidate and
advance French-Chinese cooperation, Chirac added.
During their talks, Hu briefed Chirac on China's stance on the
Taiwan authorities' attempt at "Taiwan independence" under the
guise of so-called referendum.
"We adhere to the policy of 'peaceful reunification and one
country, two systems' and stand ready to exert the greatest efforts
for the peaceful reunification of China, but we are resolutely
opposed to 'Taiwan independence' and would by no means allow
anybody to separate Taiwan from China in any means,' Hu said.
Chirac, for his part, said there is no doubt that there is but
one China in the world and that maintaining stability across the
Taiwan Straits conforms to the interests of all sides.
France hopes that the Chinese people would resolve the Taiwan
issue in line with the principle of one China, Chirac said.
The two presidents also exchanged views on strengthening
bilateral economic and trade cooperation. Chirac said Paris is
willing to work with China in such areas as nuclear energy,
aviation and railway transport, and stands ready to transfer key
technologies to China to advance localized production so as to
achieve new leaps forward in economic and trade cooperation between
the two countries.
Hu, speaking positively of the results already achieved in such
cooperation, said China is willing to work with France to
consolidate the good momentum and further broaden the areas of
bilateral economic and trade cooperation.
On the current international situation, Hu said there still
exist unknown elements in Iraq and other Middle East hot spots and
non-traditional security problems, terrorism being one of them, are
increasingly threatening peace and security of mankind.
"We believe it necessary to engage in dialogue and cooperation
and bring into play the UN's role in solving global problems and
meeting the challenges and difficulties mankind faces," the Chinese
president said.
China and France, both permanent members of the UN Security
Council, have identical or similar views on many major
international issues and share broad common interest, Hu said.
"China is willing to further strengthen consultation, coordination
and cooperation with France to better safeguard world peace and
development."
Chirac said he fully agrees with Hu and that the two countries
should further enhance cooperation on the international
arena.
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(Xinhua News Agency January 27, 2004)