PARIS, Jan. 23 (Xinhuanet) -- French President Jacques Chirac saidon Monday that Germany should not worry about the French nuclear policy, which had not be changed.

    "No-one in Germany needs be even the slightest bit worried" by French nuclear policy, Chirac said at a joint news conference after his talks with visiting German Chancellor Angela Merkel in the French historic town of Versailles in southwest Paris.

    Merkel said she found nothing to criticize in the French position on this issue.

    Some in Germany reacted coolly to Chirac's speech on Thursday in which he for the first time raised the threat of targeting French nuclear weapons on rogue states that back terrorism.

    At the joint conference, Chirac also said the two leaders had prepared the ground for two major EU meetings: a ministerial council in March where energy will be the main theme, and the biannual summit in June which will focus on the institutional future of the 25-member bloc.

    According to the French presidency, Chirac discussed with Merkel on the French will to bring down value added tax (VAT) for the hotel and restaurant trade to 5.5 percent, one of Chirac's 2007 election promise and also an idea vigorously opposed by Berlin.

    But he acknowledged at the news conference that France was unlikely to get its way when the matter is voted on at an EU finance ministers' meeting Tuesday.

    Their talks on Monday are in the framework of the informal Franco-German summits named "Blaesheim process", which, taking place every 6 to 8 weeks, was instituted on Jan. 31, 2001 in the French village of Blaesheim in the hope of close bilateral ties and reinforced political cohesion.

    Before the talks, the two leaders inaugurated an exhibition called "Splendours of the Court of Saxony" at the 17th-century palace of Versailles, former residence of French kings. Enditem