BEIJING, Oct. 10 (Xinhuanet) -- France is willing to further promote friendly ties with China and with the Chinese people, saidFrench President Jacques Chirac here Sunday evening.

    Chirac made the remarks in a meeting with Liu Qi, secretary ofthe Beijing Municipal Committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC), and Wang Qishan, mayor of Beijing.

    Chirac said France and China currently enjoy good relations in politics and in economy, noting that the French side is willing tosupport any move to develop friendly relations between France and China, and between Paris and Beijing.

    Liu Qi, also member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee, said Beijing and France have witnessed active cooperation in recent years in such fields as economy, trade, culture and tourism, and gained fruitful achievements.

    Liu expressed his hope that the French entrepreneurs would grasp the opportunity of the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games to furtherenhance cooperation with their counterparts in Beijing, so as to jointly create sound prospects for bilateral ties. Enditem