Chinese premier winds up visit to France

Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao left Nice, a coastal city in southern France, for Slovakia on Wednesday after winding up a four-day official visit of the country.

Before his departure, Wen paid a visit to the Alcatel Alenia Space company, where he was briefed on the research and production of satellites by company officials.

The premier, who flew here Tuesday from Paris, also visited two high-tech enterprises -- the International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor (ITER) situated in Cadarache, and the Eurocopter Group in France's second largest city, Marseille.

During the visit, Wen encouraged the Eurocopter Group to make more efforts in cooperation with China's aviation industry.

Wen arrived in Marseille on Tuesday afternoon from Paris, where he held talks with French Prime Minister Dominique de Villepin, met with French President Jacques Chirac and President of the French National Assembly Jean-louis Debre, and made a speech to some 800 students and teachers at the university, Ecole Polytechnique.

Earlier Sunday, Wen paid a visit to some French and European aviation and space companies, including the European Aeronautic Defense and Space Company and aircraft maker Airbus, in the southwestern city of Toulouse.

Wen's visit to France was aimed at exchanging views with French leaders on issues of mutual concern, extensively contacting friends from various social groups to further enhance understanding, expanding common recognition and promoting cooperation, in a bid to push forward the Sino-French comprehensive strategic partnership.

France is the first leg of Wen's five-nation Europe-Asia tour, which will also take him to Slovakia, the Czech Republic, Portugal and Malaysia.

Source: Xinhua