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Company-level ties between France, China important: minister

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2009-10-31 13:30

The relationship at company level between France and China is very important, visiting French Finance Minister Christine Lagarde said Friday.

Speaking in Hong Kong, the last leg of her three-day visit to China, Lagarde told a press conference that the visit of the French delegation to China has been very successful and that she was "very much looking forward to the visit of about 100 Chinese companies" together with senior Chinese commerce officials in late November.

She will be hosting Chinese delegation to "improve the relationship at company level, which is very important," Lagarde said.

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The French finance minister said she was fascinated to find similar stimulus packages were put in place in China, including Hong Kong, and France, adding that it was important for France and China to coordinate their exit strategies.

Lagarde said she discussed the regulation of the financial sector as well as the cooperation at company level during a meeting earlier on Friday with John Tsang, Financial Secretary of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) government.

There is room for cooperation between France and Hong Kong in fields including water treatment, waste treatment, energy and transport, she said.

Leading a delegation of leaders of 25 large business groups, Lagarde embarked on her China visit on Wednesday, which also led her to Beijing and Guangzhou.

Lagarde visited China also to prepare for an expected visit of French Prime Minister Francois Fillon in December.