Wu Bangguo (R), chairman of the Standing Committee of China's National People's Congress (NPC), meets with French Senate President Christian Poncelet at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, China, April 25, 2008. (Xinhua Photo) Photo Gallery>>>

    BEIJING, April 25 (Xinhua) -- China and France established a regular mechanism on parliamentary exchanges here on Friday.

    Top Chinese legislator Wu Bangguo and French Senate President Christian Poncelet signed the agreement after their hour-long talk on bilateral ties and China-EU relations.

    Wu, chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress(NPC), told Poncelet the signing of the mechanism marked the exchange and cooperation between the NPC and French senate "entering a new stage" and would further promote the all-round development of Sino-French ties.

    Wu said the NPC and the French parliament, as well as respective friendship groups, had kept close contacts and achieved positive results in recent years.

    "All these have played an important role on deepening bilateral ties and friendship between the two peoples."

    On the recent events in France that were unfriendly to Chinese, especially the disruption of the Beijing Olympic torch relay in Paris, Wu said these hurt Chinese feelings.

    He called on the French side to take the overall interests into consideration, to further understand and give firm support on major issues of China's concern.

Wu Bangguo (R), chairman of the Standing Committee of China's National People's Congress (NPC), shakes hands with French Senate President Christian Poncelet after signing documents on the establishment of a regular mechanism on parliamentary exchanges between China and France, at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, China, April 25, 2008. (Xinhua Photo) Photo Gallery>>>

    He said China would like to work with France to promote bilateral relations.

    Poncelet said the disruptions of torch relay in Paris and the attack on the disabled Chinese torch bearer Jin Jing were ignited by a small number of persons.

    French people were shocked at these events and rebuked their wrongdoing, he said.

    France fully respected China's sovereignty and territorial integrity and firmly adhered to the one-China policy, he added.

    France considered Taiwan an inalienable part of China, and the matter of Tibet belonged to China's internal affairs, Poncelet said.

    The elder statesman said France valued its ties with China and would further enhance bilateral cooperation and make greater contribution to build a harmonious world.