Annual China-France Seminar Stresses Cooperation in Hi-Tech SectorChinese and French economic experts and officials gathered here Thursday for their annual economic seminar which will explore the possibility of cooperation in the hi-tech sector between the two countries.Former French President Valery Giscard D'estaing and Chinese State Councilor Wu Yi attended the two-day seminar, which was co-organized by the China Council for the Promotion of International Trade (CCPIT) and France-China Committee of France. About 300 French and Chinese entrepreneurs and officials are attending the seminar. Themed "the development of the high-tech and information industries and the prospects of cooperation between China and France on the sectors", the seminar is the seventh since 1995. Wu Yi said in a speech that it is of great importance that China and France strengthen economic cooperation. It will contribute to the common prosperity of the two countries and it will be beneficial to the progress and prosperity of the world as well. D'estaing described China as a growing economic power not only in Asia, but also an important part of the world economy. He said France and other members of the European Union are willing to conduct economic cooperation with China to promote common prosperity in the world. Bilateral trade volume between China and France reached a historical high of US$7.66 billion last year, up 14.2 percent. China's main export commodities to France were garments, plastic products, footwear and toys, and its imports from France were textile machinery, rolled steel and pharmaceuticals. The China Telecom and Alcatel of France signed two draft contracts Wednesday during the seminar, promising cooperation involving broad band and mobile networks. |
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