ST. PETERSBURG, Russia, July 17 (Xinhua) -- Chinese President Hu Jintao and French President Jacques Chirac on Monday hailed the ties between China and France, pledging to boost bilateral cooperation in a wide range of fields.

    The two leaders met on Monday afternoon after the conclusion of the outreach session of the G8 St. Petersburg summit.

    During the meeting, Hu said that the current ties are among the best in the history of the relations between the two countries.

    Chirac said he agreed to Hu's observation, noting that the A320 general assembly line of Airbus would be set up in China, a new starting point for the aeronautic cooperation between the two countries.

    Hu said the bilateral aeronautic cooperation is a strategic decision, which would exert vital influence on the bilateral economic and technology cooperation.

    The Chinese president hoped that relevant departments from both countries would continue their efforts to launch the construction of the relevant projects.

    The two leaders also vowed to enhance cooperation in energy technology. Enditem