(China Daily)
Updated: 2007-11-27 07:15

President Hu Jintao hosted a French banquet for his French guest on Sunday night. The light-hearted air and arrangements were highlighted by a pair of chopsticks for every guest.

Differentiating himself from other foreign leaders, French President Nicolas Sarkozy chose Xi'an, one of the epitomes of China's long history, as the first stop of his China trip.

However, Sarkozy is in China not only for its cultural and historical sites. The heavyweight figures accompanying the French president are seven French ministers and 48 French entrepreneurs. The 21 agreements China and France inked yesterday exhibited the sense of pragmatism President Hu and his French counterpart have steered the bilateral relations. Sarkozy encouraged small and medium-sized companies to go to China, pursuing win-win opportunities. Still, he asked the Chinese firms to have faith in his country.

Sarkozy has set foot in China six months after taking office. Previously French leaders have started their China trips two years after taking office.

A clear message he wants to send to his host is: the French government is now more serious and sincere about its promises for China than any other time. He is explicit about the one-China principle - Taiwan is a part of China. His confidence in China's development is based on the fact that it benefits China and the rest of the world.

President Hu and his guest have deliberated the future of bilateral relations.

Confronting the challenges facing the world such as environmental problems, trade and security, China and France harbor the same aspirations for peace, prosperity and harmony. In the spirit of common interests, Sarkozy said that he is willing to work with President Hu.

In Sarkozy's words, China-France relations are characterized by friendship and special trust. He said he cherishes and will continue to promote the special relationship between the two countries.

Their comprehensive strategic partnership has turned out to be an important building block for France's foreign policy. Cooperation and trust have laid a solid foundation for the partnership, which covers a wide range of sectors such as economy, science and culture.

More important is the expanding exchange between the two peoples. Last year 600,000 Chinese visited France.

(China Daily 11/27/2007 page10)