Chinese President Hu Jintao's upcoming visit to France will lay the foundation for a better future for bilateral relations, a French lawmaker told Xinhua in a recent interview.

Hu's visit will provide a platform for younger politicians to express their ideas and willingness to build a better future with China," said Jean Francois Cope, president of the Union for a Popular Movement (UMP)group in the National Assembly.

"I'm very much looking forward to President Hu's visit to France," Cope said.

Cope said France and China should work side by side at political and economic levels to reinforce their partnership concerning bilateral and international affairs.

China is playing an increasingly active role in the world. France and China can complement each other in many aspects, said Cope, who once served as a government spokesperson and minister of budget.

It is very important for Europe and China to reach agreement within the framework of the G20, he said.

"I think the issues of monetary policy, trade policy, regulation of the global financial system are ones on which China should absolutely take strong positions, because its interests are also the same as the world's. And we have converging interests in this area," he said.

"In view of all these subjects within global dialogue, I think we have many things to talk about and do together," Cope added.

Recalling his visit to the Shanghai Expo this summer as a Chinese culture enthusiast, Cope said President Hu's visit to the French Pavilion and the exchanges of high-level visits helped consolidate the partnership between the two countries.