法国与伊朗签署经贸合作大单

French President Francois Hollande has met visiting Iranian President Hassan Rouhani in Paris. The two leaders stressed efforts to fight terrorism. In addition, 20 bilateral agreements were signed.

Iranian President Hassan Rouhani arriving for talks with French President Francois Hollande.

Plans for the two presidents to share a lunch were dropped-- reportedly after the French refused to follow an Iranian condition that halal meat be served and for wine to be left off the menu.

Culinary tensions aside this trip is being hailed as the start of a new chapter in Iranian-French ties following the curbing of Iran's nuclear program and lifting of sanctions.

Rouhani said Tehran would keep to commitments it made under the nuclear agreement.

Both countries hailed the signing of 20 agreements, including nine commercial deals, as a sign of thawing relations.

The total value of the deals, which includes the sale of 118 Airbus passenger planes to Iran Air - could reach up to 30 billion euros, or almost 33 billion US dollars.

Meanwhile, on the streets of Paris, some two thousand people protested over Iran's human rights record, and use of the death penalty.

Hollande said he had reminded Rouhani of France's commitment to human rights during their discussions, but it didn't seem like it was top of the agenda.

This trip has been more about business than diplomacy. Politically, France and Iran often find themselves ideologically at odds with one another. But when it comes to doing business, they certainly seem to be speaking the same language.