On Monday, Chinese President Hu Jintao led a welcome ceremony for his French counterpart, Nicolas Sarkozy. Later, they met for talks signing a number of trade contracts.
Six months after he was sworn in as French President, Sarkozy makes China his first destination in Asia.
This is not their first meeting, but is indeed a new page for China-France relations.
During their talks, Hu and Sarkozy exchanged views on the development of bilateral relations. They also discussed international and regional issues.
While diplomacy remains high on the agenda, trade has become the new focus. Sarkozy brought with him a long shopping list.
The French President will also meet with other top Chinese leaders. He will visit the prestigious Tsinghua University on Tuesday and conclude his official visit the same day in Shanghai.
