French President Jacques Chirac and visiting senior official of
the Communist Party of China (CPC), Li
Changchun, have vowed to join hands to boost the all-around
strategic partnership between the two countries.
China and France share same or similar stand on major international
issues and the common interests have laid a solid foundation for
the sound development of Sino-French ties in various fields, said
Li, member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the
CPC Central Committee, during a meeting with Chirac on
Saturday.
China is willing to make concerted efforts with France to push the
Sino-French all-around strategic partnership to a new high, Li
said.
Chirac noted that in recent years, the political relationship
between France and China has become increasingly closer, the
economic cooperation has developed smoothly, and the scientific
exchanges have yielded fruits.
"All these have created favorable conditions for the deepening of
bilateral cooperation and exchanges," he said.
Chirac also hailed the cooperation between France and China within
the framework of the United Nations.
Both sides spoke highly of the bilateral cultural exchanges.
Chirac said the "Chinese Culture Year in France," a nine-month
culture-promotion fair held across France since last October, is a
big success as a result of the increasingly closer cultural
exchanges between the two nations.
"The excellent France-China political relations have provided
profound basis for the prosperous bilateral cultural exchanges,
which have, in return, facilitated the all-around development of
bilateral ties," he said.
Li expressed his thanks for the French side's support to the
"Chinese Culture Year in France," adding that China will give its
full support to ensure the "French Culture Year in China," to be
held in China this October, a success.
Since last October, some 370 events introducing the Chinese
culture, such as exhibitions and concerts, have been staged across
France.?
On Friday night, Li attended the closing ceremony for the "Chinese
Culture Year in France" at the Chateau de Versaille in Paris.
Li arrived in Paris Thursday on a four-day good-will visit to
France.??
France is the last leg of Li's four-nation tour, which
has?taken him to Kazakhstan, Ukraine and Greece.
(Xinhua News Agency July 4, 2004)