Chinese President Hu Jintao presides over a welcoming ceremony in honor of French President Jacques Chirac at the square outside the east gate of the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, Oct. 26, 2006.   BEIJING, Oct. 26 - China and France on Thursday signed a joint statement and 14 cooperation agreements ranging from aviation, nuclear power utilization to prevention of infectious diseases.

 

Chinese President Hu Jintao held talks with the visiting French President Jacques Chirac here on Thursday.