On July 9, 2008, Chinese President Hu Jintao met with his French counterpart Nicolas Sarkozy in Toyako, Hokkaido.

Hu said in the aftermath of the devastating earthquake that hit Sichuan province on May 12, Sarkozy had conveyed his sympathies to the quake victims and visited the Chinese embassy in Paris to offer his condolences in person, while the French government provided assistance for the quake-hit regions and sent medical teams. "We deeply appreciate this," Hu told the French leader.

Sarkozy once again expressed condolences and sympathy over the huge casualties and heavy property losses caused by the devastating earthquake.

He said the two countries enjoy traditionally friendly bilateral relations. Since the establishment of diplomatic ties in 1964, bilateral ties have been moving forward in general and the development of China-France relations is always in the front rank of relations between China and western countries and the ties deserve to be treasured by the two sides.

Hu recalled that the two sides reached a broad consensus on some major issues during Sarkozy's visit to China last November, noting that the visit has strongly pushed forward the development of bilateral ties. China appreciates Sarkozy's adherence to the one-China policy, his opposition to "Taiwan independence" and his reiteration that Tibet is an inalienable part of China, Hu said.

The Chinese president also drew attention to the difficulties experienced in bilateral ties in the past months and called it a situation China was not willing to see. "Frankly speaking, this is not caused by the Chinese side," said Hu. China has taken a positive view of the recent efforts made by the French side to improve bilateral relations, Hu said, expressing hope that the two sides should view bilateral ties from a strategic and long-term perspective, eliminate disturbance and meet each other halfway to ensure a healthy and stable development.

Sarkozy said the world peace and stability needs China and the resolution of many problems in the world cannot go without China. France hopes to see a bigger role played by China in international and regional affairs. Noting that China is a strategic partner of France, Sarkozy said his country attaches great importance to its relations with China and is looking forward to strengthening dialogue and cooperation in bilateral, regional and international affairs. He emphasized that France will firmly adhere to the one-China policy on issues concerning Taiwan and Tibet and such a position will remain unchanged.

The Beijing Olympic Games is a grand event that is of vital significance to the 1.3 billion Chinese people, said Sarkozy, adding that nobody is entitled to imperil the Games. He said he would attend the opening ceremony of the Beijing Olympics as the French president and the rotating president of the Council of the European Union.

Hu called Sarkozy's decision to attend the opening ceremony of Beijing Olympics as a "correct" one and wished the French athletes good performance at the Olympics.

Ling Jihua, member of the Secretariat of the CPC Central Committee (CPCCC) and Director of the General Office of the CPC Central Committee, Wang Huning, member of the Secretariat of the CPC Central Committee (CPCCC) and Director of the Policy Research Office of the CPC Central Committee, and State Councilor Dai Bingguo attended the meeting.