French presidential candidate Segolene Royal has promised to give French high-school students more access to Chinese-language education if she wins the election this spring.

"More French people should learn Chinese, and senior high schools should set up Chinese classes," Royal said through an interpreter at a press conference in Beijing yesterday before wrapping up her four-day trip to China.

Cultural exchanges between the two sides are very important for strengthening bilateral ties, said Royal, who invited more Chinese students to study in France.

According to the education authorities, nearly 7,000 Chinese studied in France in 2005.

The Socialist Party of France candidate for the polls said she would "inject some fresh initiatives" into French foreign policy toward China if she was victorious in the polls.

She will encourage French companies, particularly small- and medium-sized enterprises, to invest in China, and join hands with Chinese enterprises.

Royal called for closer commercial ties, saying France should take advantage of China's economic growth. She tried to allay French fears over China's low-cost competitive advantage.

"Cooperation will permit France to benefit from the opening-up of the Chinese market," she said.

Turning to the human rights in China, she said she firmly believed that the Chinese government would take positive steps to improve the situation.

"China is willing to have a dialogue on human rights with France on the basis of equality," Foreign Ministry spokesman Liu Jianchao said yesterday at a regular briefing.

Source: China Daily