Special report: Hu Jintao Attends Outreach Session of G8 Summit

Chinese President Hu Jintao (R) meets with French President Nicolas Sarkozy at Toyako in Hokkaido, north Japan, on July 9, 2008.  (Xinhua Photo) Photo Gallery>>>

    TOYAKO, Japan, July 9 (Xinhua) -- Chinese President Hu Jintao met with his French counterpart Nicolas Sarkozy here Wednesday on the sidelines of the Group of Eight (G8) summit's outreach session.

    Hu expressed China's deep appreciation for the sympathy and aid offered by President Sarkozy and the French government in the aftermath of the devastating earthquake that hit Sichuan province on May 12.

    Sarkozy had conveyed his sympathies to the quake victims and visited the Chinese embassy in Paris to offer his condolences in person, while the French government provided assistance for the quake-hit regions and sent medical teams.

    "We deeply appreciate this," Hu told the French leader.

    He said the two countries enjoy traditionally friendly bilateral relations, which "deserve to be treasured by our two sides."

    He recalled that the two sides reached a broad consensus on some major issues during Sarkozy's visit to China last November, noting that the visit has strongly pushed forward the development of bilateral ties.

    China appreciates Sarkozy's adherence to the one-China policy, his opposition to "Taiwan independence" and his reiteration that Tibet is an inalienable part of China, Hu said.

    The Chinese president also drew attention to the difficulties experienced in bilateral ties in the past months and called it a situation China was not willing to see.

    China has taken a positive view of the recent efforts made by the French side to improve bilateral relations, Hu said, and hoped the two sides should view bilateral ties from a strategic and long-term perspective to ensure a healthy and stable development.

    Noting that China is a strategic partner of France, Sarkozy said his country attaches great importance to its relations with China and is willing to strengthen dialogue and cooperation in bilateral, regional and international affairs.

    He emphasized that France will firmly adhere to the one-China policy.

    The Beijing Olympic Games is a grand event that is of vital significance to the 1.3 billion Chinese people, said Sarkozy, adding that nobody is entitled to imperil the Games.

    He said he would attend the Beijing Olympics as the French president and the rotating president of the European Union.

    Hu called Sarkozy's decision to attend the Beijing Olympics as a "correct" one and wished the French athletes good performance at the Olympics.