Premier Wen Jiabao delivering a speech at the National Council of French Employers

On December 5, 2005, Premier Wen Jiabao of the State Council who was paying an official visit to France met in Paris with representatives from the business community in France. Wen shared with them China's guideline of pursuing a peaceful development path and establishing a harmonious society. He pointed out with the implementation of China's 11th Five-Year Plan, French companies have a brighter future in cooperation with China. He hoped French entrepreneurs can grasp the opportunity and take an active part in China's economic development so as to contribute to the development of China-France comprehensive strategic partnership.

Following the meeting, Wen went to the headquarters of the National Council of French Employers to deliver a speech to the business people. Chairman of the National Council of French Employers and Minister of Small and Medium-sized Undertakings Renaud Dutreil indicated in their respective speeches that China's robust development provides an important opportunity for France and French businesses have been closely following China's development. Both of them expected to see closer bilateral cooperation. Former French President Valery Giscard D'Estaing and around 400 business representatives attended the meeting.

On the same day, Wen also met with D'Estaing to express appreciations for his long-term efforts in actively promoting China-France relations. Wen hoped he could continue to make contributions to this end.