The sun shines again

The sun is shining again over China-France relations after a succession of "rainy days" in 2008.

French Prime Minister Francois Fillon's three-day visit to China offered a good review of the bilateral relations this year. Still, it heralds the beginning of a more meaningful relationship next year and beyond.

Fillon's delegation, which consisted of 20 some chief executives, inked deals worth of billions of euros with Chinese companies. More importantly, the French prime minister was in Beijing to deliberate French President Nicolas Sarkozy's presence at the Shanghai Expo and President Hu Jintao's possible visit to France next year.