China, France ink joint statement, agreements
(Xinhua)
Updated: 2006-10-26 21:37
China and France on Thursday signed a joint statement and 14 cooperation
agreements ranging from aviation and nuclear power utilization to the prevention
of infectious diseases.
Chinese President Hu Jintao and visiting French President Jacques Chirac both
agreed that the Sino-French relations have become "an example" for friendly
cooperation among countries with different historical backgrounds, cultural
traditions and development stages.
Chirac, who arrived here on Wednesday afternoon on a four-day state visit,
talked with Hu for two hours in the Great Hall of the People before witnessing
the signing of a series of agreements, including an overarching document
entitled the Sino-French Joint Statement.
The 14 agreements include a framework agreement and a letter of intent for
150 Airbus A320 aircraft and a contract worth 1.2 billion euros (1.5 billion
U.S. dollars) for the delivery of 500 freight locomotives from Alstom SA of
France to China.
The multi-billion-dollar arrangement represents the largest deal in the
history of Chinese aviation.
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