Premier Wen Jiabao said that China attaches great importance to
the friendly cooperation with France and appreciates the French
government's positive policy towards China when he met with French
Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner on Wednesday.
Wen told Kouchner, who is in Beijing to prepare for a state
visit to China by French President Nicolas Sarkozy, that China is
ready to make joint efforts with France to strengthen contacts and
coordination on major issues, deepen and expand mutual-beneficial
cooperation and promote the comprehensive strategic partnership
between the two countries.
Wen hailed the China-France relationship saying the relationship
is in the interests of both countries which has played an important
role in promoting world peace and common development.
Kouchner said China has conquered a lot of difficulties and
challenges and made remarkable achievements in its reform and
opening up and its modernization process.
He said the Chinese government has worked hard to improve the
people's livelihood and has played a role as a responsible power in
the international community, which France admires a lot.
The French foreign minister said the French government will
continue to promote the development of France-China relations,
adding China's development will bring more opportunities for
France-China cooperation,
Kouchner arrived here Wednesday for a two-day official visit to
China at the invitation of Chinese Foreign Minister Yang
Jiechi.
China welcomes French President Nicolas Sarkozy to pay a state
visit in late November, said Yang when meeting press with Kouchner
after their talks on Wednesday.
(Xinhua News Agency November 1, 2007)
