China warmly welcomes French President Nicolas Sarkozy on a
state visit next month, which will "be a great event for
China-France relations", Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi said at a
joint press conference with his French counterpart yesterday.
Yang and French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner discussed the
preparations for Sarkozy's visit, and agreed that it would
definitely achieve great results.
A lot of agreements will be inked between France and China
during Sarkozy's visit in areas such as energy, transportation and
education, Kouchner said.
The French foreign minister is in China to pave the way for
Sarkozy's visit, the first since he assumed presidency in May.
During their talks, Yang said China is ready to go along with
France to deepen strategic dialogue, expand mutually beneficial
cooperation and have closer consultation and coordination on major
international issues.
The two foreign ministers agreed, as two of the five permanent
members of the UN Security Council, to strengthen comprehensive
strategic partnership for the benefit of both sides. Such a
development will be beneficial to global peace, stability and
development, too.
On the development of ties between China and the European Union
(EU), Yang said their relationship had matured after 30 years of
cooperation.
"The two sides share broad common interests in intensifying
mutual political trust, expanding economic and trade cooperation,
jointly tackling the challenges of climate change and combating
traditional and non-traditional security threat," Yang said.
Kouchner ensured Yang that France would double its efforts to
solve the pending China-EU problems after his country assumed the
rotating presidency of the EU in July 2008.
On the Taiwan question, Kouchner said France follows the
one-China policy. He said EU foreign policy chief Javier Solana had
made a statement on behalf of EU countries opposing Taiwan
authorities' attempt to hold a referendum to move the UN for
membership. "France supports the position (of Solana)," Kouchner
said.
Yang and Kouchner also exchanged views on regional and
international matters such as the nuclear issues on the Korean
Peninsula and in Iran, the situation in Myanmar, climate change and
the Darfur and other issues in Africa.
(China Daily November 1, 2007)
