On April 25, 2003, Premier Wen Jiabao held talks with visiting French Prime Minister Jean-Pierre Raffarin at the Great Hall of the People.

Wen said that French Prime Minister Jean-Pierre Raffarin's visit to China at this critical juncture in China's fight against severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) is of great significance and will help to promote the further development of bilateral relations, and it demonstrates the great importance the French side attaches to China-France relations, the sincere friendship between the two peoples and France’s desire to further its all-round partnership with China. Wen stressed that China also attaches great importance to its relations with France and considers China-France relations one of the priorities in its foreign relations. China will work with France to push bilateral relations to a new high.

Wen appraised  positively  the development of China-France relations, noting that China and France have had profound political relations and strategic dialogue, and share common ground on a number of major issues. The two countries are also important trading partners to each other and have cooperated with great success on some major projects. They have conducted frequent cultural exchanges as well, advancing conversations between different cultures through down-to-earth action.

Wen said the momentum of exchange of visits and hotlines between the heads of state of the two countries should continue. Under the current volatile and complex situation, China and France should strengthen dialogue, consultation and coordination within the framework of the United Nations as both of them are permanent members of the Security Council. Wen suggested that small and medium-sized companies of the two countries should expand cooperation in addition to the existing cooperation between big companies on major projects. Cooperation in the areas of agriculture and environmental protection should be stressed. China welcomes French firms to further their cooperation with Chinese businesses in the areas of nuclear energy, electricity, transportation and finance.

Wen said that global instability and uncertainty are definitely more evident today, and the principal global theme of peace and development is being challenged by war and by unbalanced development between developing and developed countries. The handling of international relations under such circumstances and the search for common development in a globalized economy, therefore, have become two fundamental issues defining the world's future orientation. China insists on building a new global political and economic order in response to mankind's demands for continued development. China stands ready to work with France to safeguard and strengthen the role of the United Nations, to further dialogue and consultations in the international community, to take effective actions to curb unconventional security threats such as terrorism and to correctly channel economic globalization so as to contribute to world peace and the common development of mankind.

Raffarin said that this visit to China under his lead is just to express the sincere support of French government and people to China’s combat against SARS, which should be seen as the symbol of friendship and mutual trust between the two countries, and which also fully displays the great importance France attaches to developing all-round friendly partnership with China. The famous French litterateur Balzac said that the best performance of strength is in its perseverance. France is willing to offer help to China in the areas such as medical treatment and hygiene, and France believes that Chinese people shall win this special combat.

Raffarin said France is paying close attention to China's efforts in reform and opening up and admires China's achievements. France thinks China is playing an increasingly important role in today's world affairs. The existing France-China relations are at a high level, but there is still great potential for further growth. Next year will mark the 40th anniversary of the establishment of full diplomatic relations between the two, and a series of cultural activities will be held in France and China, respectively. France hopes to expand cooperation with China in the areas of agriculture, transportation, energy and environmental protection, and hopes to further advance bilateral relations with China.