国内英语新闻:Sarkozy: France willing to deepen ties with China

PARIS, April 27 (Xinhua) -- French President Nicolas Sarkozy says he wants to enhance Franco-Sino relations at all levels because China has an indispensable role to play on the global stage.

The French president was speaking in an interview with Xinhua Tuesday before his visit to China, where he will attend the 2010 World Expo in Shanghai.

President Sarkozy described bilateral ties and partnership as comprehensive as well as strategic.

"Comprehensive, because it covers all aspects of our relationship; strategic, because China has become an absolutely essential player on the international stage. There is no more big issue today that we can tackle without China," Sarkozy said.

Referring to the establishment of the France-China diplomatic relations 45 years ago, the president said some misunderstanding between the two countries had belonged to the past and he held a firm confidence in China's future.

"This is why I made the strengthening of the Franco-Chinese partnership a priority of our foreign policy," Sarkozy said.

He said relations between the two countries had warmed and France would like to further ties with China "in all dimensions."