Sarkozy's invitation to Hu confirmed

By Li Xiaokun (China Daily)
Updated: 2009-04-29 07:41

China cherishes ties with France and is keen to maintain high-level official exchanges, the Foreign Ministry said on Monday, confirming that French President Nicolas Sarkozy has invited President Hu Jintao on a state visit.

French National Assembly Speaker Bernard Accoyer handed over a letter containing the invitation to Hu during their meeting on Friday, ministry spokeswoman Jiang Yu told a press briefing.

Sarkozy, in his letter, reiterated his aspiration for enhancing cooperation with China. He also said France would strengthen contacts and coordination with China on major international issues, especially on resolving the global financial crisis and the reform of international financial institutions, Jiang said.

China and France will together learn from the experience gained in the course of bilateral relations, she added.

Sino-French relations soured last December after Sarkozy met with the Dalai Lama, prompting China to call off a summit with the European Union, of which Paris was holding the rotating presidency. But ties thawed earlier this month after the two foreign ministries issued a joint statement in which France reiterated its stance of not supporting "Tibet independence" in any form.

During a meeting with former French president Jacques Chirac in Beijing on Monday, Hu called for new initiatives to boost the comprehensive strategic partnership.

Hu described Chirac - who is on his ninth visit to China - as an old friend of the Chinese people for his contribution to the friendship between the two nations.

"The Chinese people will never forget this," Hu said.

Chirac praised China's achievements, calling the nation's development "a positive factor" in global prosperity.

Chirac also met with State Councilor Dai Bingguo on Monday, and Le Parisien newspaper reported he would meet with former president Jiang Zemin, an old friend, during the visit.

Chirac is scheduled to deliver a speech on bilateral relations at China Foreign Affairs University today.

Vietnam move protested

China on Monday lodged a protest with Vietnam over its appointment of an official to an island group in the South China Sea, calling it "illegal and invalid".

"China has indisputable sovereignty over the Xisha Islands and their adjacent waters," Foreign Minsitry spokeswoman Jiang Yu said in a statement.

"Vietnam's decision to appoint an official is illegal and invalid."

Vietnam on Saturday announced the appointment of Dang Cong Ngu as chairman of the people's committee of the Huyen dao Hoang Sa (Hoang Sa is Vietnamese name for the Xisha Islands).

The group consists of more than 30 islets, sandbanks or reefs over an area of about 15,000 sq km in the South China Sea.

Xinhua contributed to the story