French President Nicolas Sarkozy's visit to China, scheduled to start Sunday, will lay a more solid foundation for bilateral ties and open a new chapter in the China-France strategic partnership, China's envoy to the European country said.
Sarkozy's upcoming visit breaks a French tradition in which a president visits China at least two years after he takes office, highlighting the emphasis he puts on France-China relations, Chinese Ambassador to France Zhao Jinjun told Xinhua.
China and France enjoy "special friendly ties," the Chinese envoy said. France was the first major Western power to establish diplomatic relations with China. With joint efforts these ties have become the best among China's relations with Western countries, he said.
France became the first Western country to clinch an all-round partnership with China, created during then-president Jacques Chirac's trip to the country in 1997.
China and France agreed to set up an all-round strategic partnership during Chinese President Hu Jintao's visit to France in 2004.
"China and France share a lot of common ground. Both nations call for building a world that is politically multi-polar, economically mutually beneficial and culturally diversified and also features harmonious cooperation," Zhao said.
That is the political foundation for establishing and developing the all-round strategic partnership between the two countries, Zhao said.
China and France are seeing growing exchanges in economic, trade, cultural, educational and other areas, he said.
Both China and France shoulder "major responsibilities" for the world and strengthening bilateral cooperation not only serves the fundamental interests of both nations but is also conducive to the development of South-North cooperation, he said.
It is also of major significance to safeguarding regional and global peace and development, he added.
Since his election as the French president, Sarkozy has attached great importance to France-China relations, explicitly stuck to the one-China policy, opposed "Taiwan Independence," firmly supported the Beijing Olympic Games, and has hoped to further promote strategic mutual trust and cooperation with China,Zhao said.
The partnership between the two countries has maintained continuity and kept moving forward, he added.
During Sarkozy's visit, the two sides will review the development of China-France relations and focus on important future cooperation.
According to Zhao, Sarkozy will hold talks with President Hu and deliver a speech at Tsinghua University. Afterwards, he will visit Xi'an, capital of China's Shaanxi province, and Shanghai.
Zhao said the visit will enhance understanding between leaders of the two countries, expand consensus, deepen friendship and raise cooperation in various fields to a higher level.
Source:Xinhua
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