Sino-French ties back on track

In a joint appearance before the media after their talks, President Hu Jintao said his French counterpart Nicolas Sarkozy's second state visit to China had "opened a new page" in bilateral relations.

Hu also said he will visit France in the autumn, indicating Sino-French relations are back on track.

It is Sarkozy's first visit to China since bilateral relations hit a trough in 2008 when the Olympic torch relay was disrupted in Paris and Sarkozy met the Dalai Lama.

Hu is reported to have told Sarkozy during their meeting that "we should hold close consultations and strengthen political coordination on the reform of the international monetary system, climate change and other major issues".

Sarkozy pledged France will work with China - which has sought greater say for developing countries in world financial affairs - for a new multi-polar system when it assumes the rotating leadership of the G20 from November.

"We are going to prepare the French presidency of the G20 well in advance by thinking about a new multi-polar monetary order," he told reporters.

Iran's nuclear program was also high on the agenda at the leaders' meeting; Kazinform cites China Daily.

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