BEIJING, Jan. 26 (Xinhuanet) -- Chinese President Hu Jintao leaveshere on Monday for Paris to start his three-day state visit to France. The visit takes place on the 40th anniversary of establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries. Following is a chronology of major events in the relations in recent years.

    April 1994 -- Prime Minister Edouard Balladur visited China.

    September 1994 -- President Jiang Zemin paid a state visit to France.

    April 1996 -- Premier Li Peng visited France.

    March 1997 -- Chairman of the Standing Committee of National People's Congress Qiao Shi visited France.

    May 1997 -- President Jacques Chirac paid a visit to China. Thetwo Heads of State signed Sino-French Joint Communique, dedicatingthemselves to building a full-round partnership toward the 21st Century.

    April 1998 -- Premier Zhu Rongji visited France.

    May 1998 -- Chairman of Chinese People's Political ConsultativeConference Li Ruihuan visited France.

    September 1998 -- Prime Minister Lionel Jospin visited China.

    September 1999 -- The French Senate President Christian Poncelet visited China.

    October 1999 -- President Jiang Zemin paid his second state visit to France.

    October 2000 -- President Jacques Chirac visited China again.

    April 2001 -- Vice-Premier Li Lanqing visited France.

    November 2001 -- Vice-President Hu Jintao visited France.

    By the end of 2001 -- There were 1,870 projects with French direct investment in China.

    By the end of 2001 -- There were approximately 2,776 Chinese students studying in France and 1,057 French students studying in China.

    March 2002 -- Sino-French Agreement on cooperation in educationwas signed.

    By the end of June 2002 -- China and France had signed a total of 23 financial protocols and two agreements on grant.

    September 2002 -- Premier Zhu Rongji visited France.

    September 2002 -- Chinese and French governments signed the agreement on cultural cooperation.

    June 2003 -- President Hu Jintao met French President Jacques Chirac, ahead of a South-North leaders dialogue meeting in the French town of Evian. Enditem