China and France should continue to show understanding toward and offer mutual support for each other's concerns, Chinese President Hu Jintao said Friday.

Hu made the remarks while meeting French President Nicolas Sarkozy on the sidelines of the meeting between the Group of Eight major industrialized nations and five major developing countries in Germany's Baltic resort of Heiligendamm.

At the meeting with Sarkozy, Hu expressed satisfaction over the all-round and rapid development of the bilateral relationship. Since the establishment of the comprehensive strategic partnership between the two countries, political mutual trust has been growing, the strategic dialogue deepened, economic and trade cooperation expanded and cultural exchanges increased, the Chinese president said.

In efforts to further bilateral ties, the two countries should maintain high-level exchanges, attach importance to each other's concerns, deepen their pragmatic cooperation and promote bilateral cultural exchanges, he said.

Hu said the two sides should continue to promote cooperation in energy, aviation, railways and other key areas, and expand mutual investment and bilateral trade.

Agreeing with Hu's views on bilateral ties, Sarkozy said he was satisfied with their two countries' cooperation in various fields, adding that there has been a strong momentum for bilalteral economic and trade cooperation.

Sarkozy also said France will firmly adhere to the One China policy.

The two leaders also exchanged views on Iran's nuclear issue and the issue of Sudan's Darfur. They agreed to maintain close contact and coordination over major international and regional issues.

(Xinhua News Agency June 9, 2007)