(Xinhua)
Updated: 2007-11-26 15:44

BEIJING-- Chinese President Hu Jintao on Monday morning held talks with his French counterpart Nicolas Sarkozy in the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, after which 20-odd cooperation documents were signed.

The China-France relationship has entered a new stage, with deepening strategic dialogue and political mutual trust, Hu told Sarkozy, adding the two parties have maintained close consultation and coordination on multilateral affairs and key international issues.

The Chinese government strongly emphasizes developing friendly relations with France, and always handles the bilateral relations from a strategic and long-term perspective, Hu said.

Sarkozy, on a three-day state visit to China, said that France has noticed the peace initiative in Hu's report to the 17th National Congress of the Communist Party of China.

He said France is opposed to Taiwan independence and that the island's planned referendum on entry into the United Nations was "unjustified".

Any unilateral initiative is ineffective and unjustified, especially the planned referendum, the French President said.

In his report, Hu for the first time talked about a peace agreement across the Taiwan Strait, calling for discussion of a formal end to the state of hostility between the two sides on the basis of the one-China principle.

Hu appreciated the French President's contribution towards promoting the traditional friendship between China and France, his adherence to the one-China policy and support for China's peaceful unification.

After the talks, the two Presidents agreed to release a joint declaration on combating climate changes, and attended the signing ceremony of over 20 documents on cooperation concerning environmental protection, nuclear energy, civil aviation, communication, education, health care, investment, city planning, etc., and together met with the press.

Before the meeting, Hu held a welcoming ceremony for Sarkozy.

Sarkozy arrived in Beijing Sunday afternoon for his first state visit to China since taking office in May.