Chinese president vows to deepen strategic dialogue with France

Source: Xinhuanet | 03-20-2007 14:21

Chinese President Hu Jintao (R) meets with French Defense Minister Michele Alliot-Marie at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, on March 19, 2007. Chinese President Hu Jintao on Monday vowed to deepen strategic dialogue and political trust with France so as to lift China-France comprehensive strategic partnership to a new height.

Chinese President Hu Jintao on Monday vowed to deepen strategic dialogue and political trust with France so as to lift China-France comprehensive strategic partnership to a new height.

While meeting with French Defense Minister Michele Alliot-Marie, Hu spoke highly of bilateral military relations and appreciated France's adherence to the one-China policy.

China and France, as important and influential nations in the world, have similar or identical vies on some major international issues, share extensive common interests and shoulder common responsibility, said Hu, who is also chairman of China's Central Military Commission (CMC).

China will work with France to earnestly implement cooperative documents signed by and consensus reached by the leaders of the two countries, said Hu.

Guo Boxiong, vice chairman of the CMC, also met with Alliot-Marie on Monday afternoon.

Alliot-Marie will spend two days in Beijing, last leg of her northeast Asian tour.

The two countries have carried out deep and effective strategic dialogue in various fields including defense, said Alliot-Marie, adding that France attaches great importance to the positive role China has played in international affairs.

On Sunday, Alliot-Marie held talks with her Chinese counterpart Cao Gangchuan. Cao briefed her on China's national defense policy and its military construction, saying China adheres to peaceful development and will not pose a threat to any other country. Alliot-Marie supports lifting the ban on arms exports to China.

"The ban is nothing but a political and psychological thing," she told reporters in Tokyo last Friday.

Continued arms embargo to China would hurt relations between EU and China and that it should be relaxed as soon as possible, Alliot-Marid said.

Editor:Du Xiaodan