China and France, amid the warming Sino-EU relations, have witness great progress in economic and trade ties, recording a 13.4 billion US dollars trade volume in 2003, compared with only 1 billion dollars in 1964, when the two forged diplomatic ties.

Figures of the Chinese customs show that France, following Germany, Britain and Netherlands, has become the fourth largest trade partner of China in European Union (EU).

China-France trade reached 9.48 billion US dollars in the first 7 months, up 39.6 percent year on year. Of which, Chinese exports was 5.44 billion dollars and imports, 4.04 billion dollars.

Compared with other EU members, Sino-French trade was relatively balanced, figures show.

The high-level exchange between senior leaders of the two countries promotes bilateral economic and trade cooperation, sources with the Ministry of Commerce said, highlighting the upcoming visit by French President Jacques Chirac.

Besides, the Chinese and French cultural years held in the two countries also provides favorable atmosphere for further cooperation.

Aviation, nuclear energy, railway, automobile and vessel for carrying liquefied natural gas were the major fields of Sino-French cooperation, MOC sources said.

With the signing of a range of cooperation agreements and starting of major projects this year, Sino-French economic and trade ties was expected to be upgraded to a new high.

On mutual investment, France ranked the third largest investor in China as EU members, following Britain and Germany.

Actual direct investment from France to China summed up to 6.44 billion dollars and the contract volume, 8.49 billion dollars till last July, MOC figures show.

Meanwhile, Chinese investment in France has grown rapidly with accumulative 45.39 million US dollars contract investment by June of 2004.

France also ranked China's second largest source of technology, following Germany. The two countries have inked a total of 2,194 agreements on technology transmission worth of 11.58 billion dollars till last August.