Chirac Hosts Banquet in Honor of Chinese President 　　French President Jacques Chirac hosted on October 25 a banquet at the Elysee presidential palace in honor of Chinese President Jiang Zemin. 　　In a highly warm-hearted speech of toast, Chirac said that tonight it is China who is the guest of France. 　　``It is a China of 5,000 years, cradle of the oldest living civilization, and mother of a state older than history, as said General Charles de Gaulle, a China which is standing, which is changing and which is achieving success, which you have celebrated shortly ago with a boom of its 50th anniversary,'' said Chirac. 　　He said that the visit of President Jiang to France also has a symbolic meaning for cooperation between Asia and Europe, which he said would become one of the poles in the world of tomorrow. 　　``China and France are called to be the pioneers of the rapprochement of Europe and Asia. It is in this spirit that, in one year, I will go to Seoul for a Euro-Asia summit and then to Beijing at your (Jiang's) invitation,'' said Chirac. 　　He said that the French people are following the changes which are taking place in China with great attention and even fascination. 　　``We should and we will better know and better understand the immense changes going on in your country,'' he said. 　　Jiang said in his return toast that Chinese people hold a deep feeling toward the French people and the Chinese government pays great importance to developing relations with France. 　　He said that his talks with Chirac, Prime Minister Lionel Jospin, Senate president Christian Poncelet and National Assembly president Laurent Fabius have helped increase the understanding and trust between the two countries. 　　Jiang expressed his confidence that under mutual efforts, Sino-French relations will move on smoothly under the guideline of the 1997 joint declaration on comprehensive partnership. 　　``The train of history is entering a new century, a conjunction of two millennia. The people of all countries and all responsible statesmen and political leaders should stand at the summit of history, reflecting on the past and looking forward to the future,'' said Jiang. 　　He said that after 50 years of socialist construction, especially 20 years of reform and opening, the Chinese people have found their way of development which is proper to the situation of China, and they have obtained the conditions and basis for further development. 　　Jiang said that China will continue to follow the guidelines set by Deng Xiaoping on reform and opening, and will achieve their great goal of modernization. 　　He also said that China will seek more exchange and cooperation of mutual benefit with the people of all countries in the world. 　　``The development of China will not only benefit the Chinese people, but also stability and development of Asia and the whole world,'' said Jiang. 　　Jiang finally said that China, with its 5,000-year-history and having made great contributions to human civilization in the past, will continue to strive to make contributions to humanity. (Xinhua) WorldNews 1999-10-27 Page1 Full Story in Chinese