On the afternoon of April 28, 2009, Chinese President Hu Jintao met with former French President Jacques Chirac at the Diaoyutai State Guesthouse. Both sides held talks in a cordial and friendly atmosphere.

Hu praised Chirac as an old friend deeply respected by the Chinese people. Whether during his term as president or after leaving office, Chirac has remained committed to China-France friendship and has made outstanding contributions to deepening the understanding and friendship between the two peoples and promoting the development of bilateral ties. "The Chinese people will never forget this," Hu.

Hu said that in the context of the complex and volatile international situation and the spreading global financial crisis, to advance bilateral ties and strengthen pragmatic cooperation is not only a realistic requirement for both sides to jointly tackle the financial crisis and other global challenges, but is also of far-reaching significance to pushing for the building of a harmonious world featuring lasting peace and common prosperity. "I hope the two countries and two peoples can make joint efforts to consolidate and deepen bilateral ties and open up a new situation for bilateral comprehensive strategic partnership," Hu said.

Chirac highlighted China's time-honored history and culture, dynamic development and rapid changes, as well as the increasingly important role the country is playing in the world arena, calling the development of China "a positive factor" in world prosperity. China ranked as a world power through its own efforts, Chirac said, adding that the peaceful development of China, an always peace-loving country, was helpful to maintaining stability and progress of the world. France is fully confident about China's development, he added.

Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi and Yang Wenchang, President of the Chinese People's Institute of Foreign Affairs (CPIFA), attended the meeting.