STRASBOURG, Nov. 6  -- The fourth Sino-French regional cooperation forum opened Thursday morning in Strasbourg, France, themed "Innovation and Cooperation for Development of Urban and Rural Areas."

At the opening ceremony, Ji Bingxuan, vice chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress of China, said the Sino-French relations have seen rapid progress in recent years and the two countries have maintained frequent top-level exchanges of opinions while deepening mutual trust and cooperation.

Ji said both Chinese and French leaders and local governments attach great importance to the China-France cooperation and push for creating new development opportunities for both sides.

Philippe Richert, president of the Regional Council of Alsace, said in his speech that the forum will further consolidate and strengthen the relationship between the two nations, and that regional authorities should make joint efforts to propel the bilateral ties.

The two-day forum is organized by the Chinese People's Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries, the French foreign ministry and the authorities of the Alsace region.