China and France issued a joint statement on Thursday during the ongoing visit of Chinese President Hu Jintao to France, pledging to strengthen comprehensive strategic partnership between the two countries.

Chinese President Hu Jintao (L front) shakes hands with French President Nicolas Sarkozy (R front) in Paris, France, Nov. 4, 2010. Hu Jintao held talks with Nicolas Sarkozy in Paris on Thursday. [Li Xueren/Xinhua]

The two countries decided to add new vitality to bilateral ties 13 years after the two countries established comprehensive strategic partnership, said the statement, issued after a meeting between Hu and his French counterpart Nicolas Sarkozy here on Thursday.

The two countries decided to "build new, mature and stable comprehensive strategic partnership based on mutual trust and mutual benefit and with a global perspective," it said.

The two sides pledged to boost bilateral relations and strengthen coordination in international affairs. They also pledged to double bilateral trade over the next five years, in sectors including nuclear energy, space and aviation, railway, culture and environment.

Bilateral relations

The two countries, both permanent member of the United Nations Security Council, agreed that at a time when the world is turning multipolar and globalized, the global governing system should be reformed profoundly.

Under such circumstances, the rapid development of emerging countries can be conducive for international relations to evolve along a more rational and balanced direction, the statement said.

The statement said that relations between China and France had registered great progress since the establishment of bilateral ties 46 years ago.

The two countries should make a major contribution to peace, stability and development of the world, conform to the purposes and principles of the U.N. Charter, promote multilateralism and respect the independent and sovereign choice for the development of each country.

The two sides held that the G20 should serve to rebuild the world economic growth pattern and international financial system on a more healthy and more solid basis, and bring into play the G20's role as a major forum in world economic cooperation.

China will actively support France, who is to take the rotating presidency of the G20, the statement said.

The two countries agreed that world countries should commit to pursuing coordinated, stable and coherent marco-economic policies, and further boosting the reform of international currencies and financial systems.

Both countries oppose protectionism in all forms, and would push forward the Doha Round for a successful conclusion.