LONDON, April 1 (Xinhua) -- Chinese President Hu Jintao met with
French President Nicolas Sarkozy here Wednesday night, signifying the
restoration of bilateral ties soured by the French leader's meeting with leading
Tibetan separatist the Dalai Lama.
"Our meeting today means a new starting point for the
bilateral relations, and I hope the two sides would work together to usher in a
new phase in Sino-French ties," Hu said at the start of his meeting with
Sarkozy.
Chinese President Hu Jintao (R) shakes
hands with French President Nicolas Sarkozy during their meeting in
London, Britain, on April 1, 2009. (Xinhua/Li Xueren) Photo Gallery>>>
The two leaders were meeting ahead of a Group of 20
summit on the global financial crisis, scheduled for Thursday.
The meeting also came hours after China and France
issued a press communique Wednesday, which said the two sides "attach great
importance to China-France relations" and reiterated their adherence to the
principle of non-interference in each other's internal affairs.
In the communique, France pledged not to support
"Tibet independence" in any form.
Relations between China and France deteriorated last
December when Sarkozy decided to meet with the Dalai Lama in Poland.
"Severe difficulties" had cropped up in bilateral
relations a few months before, which the Chinese side did not want to see, Hu
said.
"China appreciates France's latest move and feels
happy about the restoration of bilateral relations," Hu said.
Sarkozy said that no matter how France-China
relations change, he believed there is only one China in the world, with Taiwan
and Tibet constituting inalienable parts of Chinese territory.
The French president said he was glad the two
countries restored their comprehensive strategic partnership and resumed
strategic dialogue.
He expressed the hope that the two countries would
seek to promote the steady and harmonious development of bilateral ties in
politics, economy, diplomacy and other areas.
Hu said this year marked the 45th anniversary of
diplomatic relations between China and France. "The past 45 years of bilateral
ties offer a profound inspiration and teach us a lot."
"First of all, it is in the fundamental interests of
both nations to develop long-term stable and friendly relations, which is also
conducive to world peace, stability and prosperity," Hu said.
Hu said both countries should treat and handle their
bilateral ties from a strategic and long-term perspective.
It is only natural that differences exist between
China and France over some issues, Hu said. Both sides should follow the
principles of mutual respect, equal treatment and non-interference in each
other's internal affairs, Hu said. "Both should properly handle their
differences and the sensitive issues on the basis of respect for each other's
core interests."
China and France, as permanent members of the United
Nations Security Council, should strengthen communication and expand cooperation
so as to play crucial roles in efforts to meet global challenges and make
positive contributions to promoting world peace and development, Hu said.
In view of the complicated and volatile international
situation and the spreading global financial crisis, both sides should adhere to
the correct orientation of bilateral relations, removing obstacles and working
together closely to advance bilateral ties.
Hu also called for strengthening high-level exchanges
and cooperation in various areas as well as increased communication and
coordination in efforts to tackle the global financial crisis.
Noting China's increasingly important role in the
international economic system, Sarkozy said France would like to work with China
to push for the reform of the international financial institutions.
BEIJING, April 1 (Xinhua) -- France said on Wednesday in a press communique simultaneously issued by Chinese and French foreign ministries both in Beijing and Paris that it would not back "Tibet independence" in any form.
BEIJING, March 31 (Xinhua) -- China on Tuesday again called on France to take concrete action to respond to its grave concerns in an active, explicit and direct way, so as to create essential conditions to put soured bilateral ties back onto a normal track.
"The development of China-France relations is the trend of times and the
common aspiration of the two peoples," Foreign Ministry spokesman Qin Gang told
a regular press briefing here Tuesday.
BEIJING, March 7 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi said
Saturday he is confident about the long-term development of the Sino-French
relations while urging France to make "positive signs" on issues of major
concern to China.
The recent problems in the two countries' relations were not the
responsibility of China, said Yang at a press conference on the sidelines of an
annual parliament session.
