China and France have agreed to work for closer cooperation and
deepen the comprehensive strategic partnership between the two
countries in a joint declaration signed in Paris on
Tuesday.
The two countries agree that since 1997, high level political
dialogues between the two countries have been fruitful, dialogues
and consultations at all levels have flourished and the scope of
cooperation has been further extended.
The comprehensive strategic partnership between China and France
is a major part of Sino-Europe relations, which has evolved into a
postive factor on the international arena.
China and France reaffirm their determination to develop their
bilateral relations from a strategic viewpoint and in the long-term
interests of the two countries and continue to maintain the
momentum of the exchange of high-level visits.
The two countries agree to enhance trade and economic
cooperation and promote the development of partnership in such key
industrial sectors as energy, aeronautics and astronautics, railway
and urban highway transportation systems.
To provide convenience for small- and medium-size enterprises
from both countries to participate in the bilateral trade system,
the two sides will strive to assist small- and medium-size
enterprises in gaining access to more information and promote the
development of partnership between small- and medium-size
enterprises from the two countries.
The two countries agree to strengthen cooperation in agriculture
and in the industry of sideline farm produce processing.
Environment is another concern of China and France expressed
inthe joint declaration. They pledge to intensify environmental
cooperation, including cooperation in dealing with climate change
under the framework of United Nations Framework Convention on
Climate Change and the Kyoto Protocol.
The two countries are satisfied with their two-decade
partnership in the field nuclear power generation and are willing
to make continued efforts to promote and develop cooperation in
this field.
From the perspective of sutainable development, development in
the construction of nuclear power generation facilities will be
conducive to ensuring safe application of energy and
self-relianceon energy as well as efforts to deal with global
climate changes.
China and France wish to develop coopeation in the application
of nuclear energy for civilian purposes. China welcomes French
efforts in bidding for the construction of nuclear power generation
projects in China.
China and France wish to deepen cooperation in the fields of
science, technology and cultural exchange.
The two countries reaffirm their readiness to develop
cooperation in such fields as disease prevention and cure,
information exchange and communications technology.
The two countries agree to set up space research and life
sciences research task forces and encourage State-run and
non-State-run research institutions and universities from both
countries to increase contacts and develop cooperation.
China and France agree to maintain the vitality from the
operation of programs of cultural-year celebrations in each other's
capital cities, and strengthen the operation of activities in such
fields as publication and production of audio-visual works.
In the joint declaration, China and France also agree to
facilitate personnel exchanges between the two countries.
The two countries agree to encourage cooperation between
universities and strengthen cooperation in language teaching. They
agree to further increase the exchange of international
students.
China and France agree to strengthen cooperation in judicature
and in the field of home security on the basis of the
inter-governmental agreement on policing between the two
countries.
The two countries agree to take appropriate measures to
promotethe development of two-way tourism between them in the
respect of visa issuance and so on, according to the joint
declaration.
(Xinhua News Agency January 28, 2004)