On the afternoon of March 31st 2004, President Hu Jintao talked over phone with French President Jacques Chirac at the request of the latter.

President Chirac reiterated the French government would continue to adhere to its principled stance of firmly upholding the one-China policy, stressing that the French side would remain committed to constantly promoting France-China comprehensive strategic partnership. He also shared with President Hu Jintao his vision on further enhancing French-China economic and trade cooperation and on the initiative of China hosting activities of the upcoming "The Year of France" in China. Meanwhile, President Chirac briefed his Chinese counterpart on the European Union's lifting of ban on arms sales to China.

President Hu Jintao highly complimented the righteous stance of the French government on adhering to the one-China policy with regard to the Taiwan question, indicating that China greatly cherished relations with France and would like to constantly enrich and expand bilateral relations in a bid to enhance and deepen reciprocal cooperation in various fields together with France. Hu Jintao said he was convinced that with the close cooperation of relevant departments in the two countries, the initiative of "The Year of France" in China would definitely witness a great success. He noted that the European Union's early removal of its ban on arms sales to China was conducive to a sounder and more comprehensive development of China-EU relations.

President Hu firmly believed that the comprehensive strategic partnership between China and France would surely be more productive with joint efforts of the two countries.