French President Jacques Chirac on Friday wished the Chinese people living in France and Europe a happy New Year, and commended the development of friendly relations between France and China.

"On the occasion of the coming of New Year on Feb. 18, I'd like to express my sincere greetings to the Chinese people living in France, who are the best eyewitnesses of closer French-Chinese friendship," Chirac was quoted by Friday's Europe Times as saying.

In the article, the French president said France and China have forged a long and sincere friendship, which is based on mutual-respect, mutual-understanding, cooperation and a common aspiration. He added that the aspiration is to build a more just and pluralized world, which will be a harmonious world.

Chirac said the experience of sharing weal and woe brings the two countries' friendship ever closer, which is very precious. He wished all Chinese people a happy new year and hoped for the advancement of the French-Chinese friendship for generations to come.

Source: Xinhua