President Hu Jintao is heading to France to improve ties between Beijing and Paris by helping resolve outstanding issues. Our reporter Xue Jingmeng spoke to one Chinese expert, to analyze the trip, which could usher in new period of friendship.

In April, French President Nicolas Sarkozy visited China. During his trip the two leaders exchanged views on improving future relations.

Hu Jintao will pay a return visit to France starting on Thursday. It's the first trip to France by the Chinese President since Sarkozy took office.

Qu Xing, president of China Institute of Int'l Studies, said, "It is a crucial moment for bilateral relations between China and France, as well as Sino-European relations. China is completing its 11th 5-year plan, and is preparing for the next 5-year plan. As for France, a major player in the European Union, due to influence of the world financial crisis, it will face some challenges and opportunities."

The meeting between the Chinese and French leaders comes a week before the G20 summit. The Chinese Foreign Ministry says President Hu Jintao will exchange opinions with world leaders at the forum.

France is scheduled to take over the G20 rotating presidency following the Seoul summit. They are making requests for reforms of the international monetary system. President Sarkozy is also proposing to organize a series of seminars to accelerate the reform, and develop the roles of G20 members.

French President Nicolas Sarkozy said, "With China, we hope to have regular financial activities, in order to prevent another global financial crisis."

Compared with the G8, the most remarkable characteristic of the G20 is that developing countries have the same rights to participate in international affairs.

Qu Xing said, "China has its own representatives among developing countries. A series of measures and reforms can't be pushed forward without China. For instance, three topics proposed by France, the international monetary system reform, raw material price supervision, and global governance, all need the participation of China."

However, China and France, even the European Union experienced friction recently, mostly due to anti-dumping issues. Cooperation, instead of competition, should be one of the ways to resolve many of the problems.

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