China on Tuesday said it hoped to work with France to promote the healthy and stable growth of bilateral ties.

French Prime Minister Francois Fillon will pay an official visit to China from Dec. 20 to 22 as guest of Premier Wen Jiabao.

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Jiang Yu briefed a regular press conference on Fillon's upcoming visit, saying that Chinese President Hu Jintao, top legislator Wu Bangguo and Premier Wen will meet with him separately.

Leaders from both countries would exchange views on further enhancing China-France comprehensive strategic partnership and on bilateral, regional and international issues of common concern, she noted.

Chinese and French presidents had met twice this year and reached important consensus on promoting bilateral ties. Jiang hoped the two nations would make joint efforts to fulfil these consensus.

Jiang also introduced the current situation of China-France relationship, saying that it witnessed sound momentum of development at present time, with increasing high-level exchanges and active all-dimensional cooperation.

The Chinese statistics showed that China-France trade volume reached US$38.94 billion last year, up 15.7 percent year-on-year. France was China's fourth biggest trade partner within the EU member states.

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