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16 May 1997
Establishing Comprehensive Partnership
At the invitation of President Jiang Zemin of the People's Republic of China, the President of the French Republic, Jacques Chirac, paid a state visit to China, as of May 15, 1997. Following friendly talks, the two parties have had in-depth exchanges of views on the major international issues of the day and have reached a broad identity of views, in the following terms.
On January 27, 1964, the establishment of the diplomatic relations between the People's Republic of China and the French Republic, opened the way to an international order based on cooperation beyond oppositions.
The development of a new-type relationship between Europe and Asia since the Bangkok Summit held in March 1996 opens up the prospects of a reinforcement of economic cooperation and political dialogue between the two continents.
At the dawn of the 21st century, the time has come for China and France to prolong this initiative with a long-term, comprehensive partnership aimed at moving Sino-French relations into a new phase of development. Both parties have decided to engage in reinforced cooperation, to foster the march towards multipolarity, to support efforts to create wealth and well-being, on the basis of respecting plurality and independence, to contribute to the establishment of a new political and economic international porder that is both just and rational, and to oppose any attempt at domination in international affairs, so that a new world that is more prosperous, more stable, more secured and more balanced can be brought about.
Reinforcing Multipolarity
The two parties held that the world today is undergoing profound changes, and is moving towards a multipolarity that is replacing the bipolar structure inherited from the past. The international situation is overall tending towards detente, but there still exist a number of foci of tension. Peace and development remain the two priority goals of human society.
Both parties note that the two countries, as permanent members of the United Nations Security Council, have a special responsibility in international affairs, and that a China in full growth and a united Europe will play an important role in a new multipolar world. The deepening of Sino-French and Asian-European relations will have a positive impact on the international situation at large.
In the new international situation, China and France will strive to promote a better balance between small and large nations, among the great regions of the world and between rich and developing countries, in the political, economic, cultural, linguistic, scientific and technical fields.
China and France also have an obligation to play an active role in their respective regions so as to contribute more in advancing Asian-European cooperation.
The two parties underline their attachment to national independence and their pursuance of the independent foreign policy of peace. Countries and peoples of the world should develop their cooperation, live on good terms with each other, increase mutual trust and settle disputes peacefully on the basis of mutual respect, equality and mutual benefit and seeking common ground while reserving differences.
Advancing the Reform of the United Nations
The two parties attach importance to the UN's primordial role in the preservation of international security and peace. They support a limited enlargement of the Security Council that would make it possible to maintain its effectiveness and ensure that a fair representation of member nations within it taking into account the way international relations have evolved. The status of permanent members as defined by the Charter must be respected.
Promoting Disarmament
Both parties deem that it is possible to make progress on the road of disarmament. The two countries are resolved to work hard for the validity as soon as possible of the Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty. They appeal for a speedy start to the negotiation of a convention banning the production of fissile material for nuclear weapons or other nuclear explosive devices; they welcome the coming into force of the Convention on Chemical Weapons; they hope that progress will be made towards the settlementp of the question of antipersonnel mines, namely, in the framework of the Disarmament Conference, taking into account the legitimate security concerns of all parties involved and seeking a balanced solution.
The two parties further emphasize the necessity to prevent the proliferation of nuclear, chemical and biological weapons, and to strengthen the universality and efficacy of the international regime for fighting proliferation of weapons of mass destruction. Both the Chinese and French sides express their readiness to exercise their stringent controls of sensitive exports that could contribute to the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction and their means of delivery, and agree to reinforce their cooperation in this area.
They welcome the unanimity reached upon the program to reinforce the
safeguards of the International Atomic Energy Agency and will strive to define
without delay the measures they are prepared to apply in order to contribute to
the program's objectives of non-proliferation and efficiency, and to meet the
commitments incumbent upon them under article 1 of the Treaty on
Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons.
Protecting the Environment
Being aware of the global dimension of environmental problems, the two parties are willing to develop close and long-term cooperation in matters pertaining to environmental protection and the rational use of natural resources. In particular they intend to foster the transfer of environmentally-sound technologies in order to promote sustainable development.
Combating Drugs, Crimes and Terrorism
The two parties agree to work in cooperation in the fight against drug trafficking, money laundering, illegal immigration and its networks, and all the other forms of organized transnational crimes.
The two parties condemn international terrorism in all forms, and will beef up their cooperation in the fight against this scourge.
Strengthening Development Aid
The two parties, conscious of the opportunities and the risks inherent in the globalization of the economy, consider that aid to developing countries from developed countries is indispensable; they call upon the latter to give substantial aid to the least advanced countries, of which more than two thirds are in sub-Saharan Africa, including through North-South cooperation and South-South cooperation.
Supporting Multilateral Trade
The two parties reaffirm their attachment to an efficient, fair and open multilateral trading system. They welcome the recent momentum of the negotiations on the accession of China to the World Trade Organization, and appeal that the momentum should be maintained. They firmly uphold that China should join the WTO at an earlier date, on the basis of equivalent rights and obligations.
Respecting Diversification
The two parties deem that differences in the historical, cultural, economic, philosophical and social spheres are a source of enrichment for the common assets of mankind. Following this guideline, they hold, constructive and serious dialogue, rather than confrontation, should be conducted in settling disputes.
The two parties emphasize that the aims and principles of the United Nations Charter, and the universality of human rights should be respected in the course of promoting and protecting human rights, while giving full consideration to the respective due particularities.
It is the wish of both parties that the constructive dialogue between China and the European Union on human rights issue should be held on the basis of equality and mutual respect, and their exchanges and cooperation increased for the reinforcement of the rule of law. Only by increasing their mutual understanding and trust can their differences be narrowed.
The French side takes note with satisfaction of the decision by China to sign, before the end of 1997, the United Nations Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, and to consider favorably its accession to the United Nations Covenant on Civil and Political Rights. China expresses its appreciations for the constructive attitude taken by France in the framework of the United Nations Commission on Human Rights.
Institutionalizing Exchanges and Consultations
The two parties underline their successful cooperation in various areas since the forging of diplomatic ties, and noted that it is also the common aspiration of both governments and both peoples to constantly broaden the deepen such friendly and mutually beneficial cooperation. They are resolved to work for the continuing growth of their partnership, in accordance with the principles that governed the establishment of their diplomatic relations and the Sino-France communique of January 12, 1994.
The two parties emphasize the special importance of close and regular contacts between their highest authorities, because they are of important significance to the deepening of the mutual trust and understanding of each other, and to fostering the sustained growth of bilateral relations. They agreed to organize annually at least one high-level bilateral meeting and at least two meetings between the ministers of foreign affairs.
The two parties decide to institutionalize consultations at all levels between the ministries of foreign affairs:
Annual consultations at the level of the Chinese vice-minister and the French Secretary General;
Close consultations between the permanent representations to the United Nations;
Regular meetings between the senior officials of the two ministries.
The two parties will make concerted efforts for the strengthening of the Asian-European dialogue at the level of the heads of state and government, and also at the level of foreign ministers, ministers of finance and ministers of the economy.
The two parties will continue deepening their dialogue on strategic issues. The Sino-French consultations on security matters should also cover defence affairs. China and France will take concrete measures to keep each other informed on their defence policies and increase exchanges between their armed forces. China has taken notice that the efforts of the Europe to assume full responsibilities in security and defence matters facilitate the strengthening of international peace and security. The French sipde considers that the efforts of China to develop its good neighborly relations are a positive factor for safeguarding world peace and stability.
The two parties encourage exchanges and cooperation between the parliaments, local authorities, associations and professional organizations of both countries.
Intensifying Economic and Trade Cooperation
The leaders of the two countries attach prime importance to bilateral economic and trade relations. They hold that the intensified cooperation in these areas constitutes an important component part of the comprehensive Sino-French partnership, and helps to establish a more balanced international economic order.
The achievements scored in the visit by the president of the French Republic bears witness to the will of the two nations to promote their economic partnership and signals a new phase in the strengthening of the relations between enterprises of the two countries. The achievements are: the two sides have signed inter-governmental cooperation agreements on the research and peaceful use of outer space, on the development of nuclear energy for peaceful use, on environmental protection and public health, andp signed some protocols on animal quarantine. The two parties also have signed contracts on joint production of 100-seat aircrafts and buying Airbus aircrafts, meanwhile granting a license to a French insurance conglomerate to engage in insurance activities in China and authorizing French banks to develop their business in China.
The two parties deem that because of the complementarity of their economies their trade has considerable potential for growth. They will attach particular importance to the removal of obstacles that limit access to their markets, to the improvement of the economic environment, in particular in the field of regulations applying to legal and taxation matters and in the field of the protection of intellectural property, to the encouragement of investment in the other side, to the strengthening of technological and industrial cooperation, and to the participation of Chinese and French small- and medium-sized enterprises in bilateral trade.
The two parties have decided to reinforce their industrial and trade partnership in the aviation and space sector. They take joy in the long-term cooperation between the Chinese and French aviation industries, and the ties forged by the Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC) and Chinese airline companies, and Airbus Industrie. And they call for still closer ties between them.
Moreover, they express satisfaction with the new arrangements concerning aviation links concluded recently between the aviation authorities of both countries. They agree to develop still further cooperation in the area of satellite research, construction and launching services and the area of space research.
The two sides give a high evaluation of the cooperation for years in the field of energy, and feel contented with the experience gained in the construction of the Daya Bay and Ling'ao nuclear power plant projects. China welcomes the continued participation of French entrepreneurs in its nuclear development program. Both Chinese and French entrepreneurs will carry out joint feasibility studies in this field.
Furthermore, the two parties will go on stepping up their mutually-beneficial cooperation in other forms of energy, especially in the development of hydro-electricity, clean coal, and natural gas. They have decided to set up a working group for cooperation in the field of energy, composed of experts from both countries.
The two parties will enhance exchanges in the field of agriculture and food processing industries, concerning in particular the exchanges of products and equipment for seed strains, viticulture and wine-making, dairy products, animal husbandry, animal genetics, and irrigation, and will intensify their cooperation in the field of standardization of agricultural and sideline products, the protection of labels of origin of products, and the fight against counterfeiting. They will make every effort to settlpe rapidly the matters still under discussion in the veterinary and plant health fields. They will coordinate their positions in major international agricultural bodies. The two parties also confirm their continued technical cooperation and sustained development of trade in the cereals sector in the future.
The two parties will give their support to all initiatives permitting the strengthening of industrial cooperation, in particular in the areas of chemicals, petrochemicals, iron and steel, metallurgy, automobiles, building materials, electronics, telecommunications and information networks. They express their common interest in cooperation in the rail and urban transport fields.
The two parties will see to promoting their enterprises' activities in services, including in the field of financial services, which are of increasing importance for the growth of their economies.
The two parties decide to reinforce their cooperation in continued vocational training to comply with the retooling of the state-owned enterprises.
The two parties will actively encourage and support exchanges and cooperation between government institutes, industrial firms, and associations, in the areas of environmental protection and rational utilization of natural resources.
The two parties will accelerate their cooperation in health work and medical fields and will see to an increase in exchanges in the pharmaceutical and medical equipment sectors.
Strengthening Cultural, Educational, Scientific and Technological Exchanges
The two parties will actively develop their cultural, educational, scientific and technological exchanges, helping the various cultures to prosper and bloom in a world of diversity.
They are ready to develop the resources represented by the diversity of languages. They will take steps to reinforce the teaching of the other nation's language in the two countries. They will, therefore, intensify their linguistic cooperation in their respective educational systems as well as in international organizations.
The two parties will strengthen their cooperation in the legal and judicial fields, and will place great importance on their cooperation in the administrative sector, including the training and management of human resources.
They will expand exchanges and cooperation in the audio-visual sector, encouraging increasing contacts between educational program producers and professional film workers of the two countries.
They will continue to reinforce their high-level scientific and technological exchanges, particularly in the fields of high tech and basic sciences.
Both parties have decided to extend their technological cooperation to the spheres of city planning, balanced regional development and social security in order to cope with the major social challenges of the next century.
As an embodiment of the new momentum in Sino-French cooperation, France will build a new diplomatic representation in Beijing. For its part, China will open a new consulate general in Strasbourg. Each party will accord the other all the facilities required for implementing these projects. France is contemplating the opening of new consular posts in China. The Chinese side expresses its welcome for this.
The two parties are confident that the establishment of a comprehensive Sino-French partnership will elevate the traditional relations of friendly cooperation between the two countries to a new level, reinforce multipolarity of the world, and thereby contribute greatly to peace, stability and development in the world.
Beijing, 16 May 1997
Jiang Zemin
President of the People's Republic of China
Jacques Chirac
President of the French Republic
This
material is produced independently for NTI by the James Martin
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International Studies and does not necessarily reflect the
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