French President Jacques Chirac Saturday started a three-day trip to China likely to touch on sensitive bilateral issues with a private visit to Yangzhou, the hometown of his counterpart Jiang Zemin.
The meeting at Jiang's home mirrors Chirac's hosting of the Chinese president at his chateau in France a year ago.
Arriving from Seoul, where he took part in third Asia-Europe Summit (ASEM), Chirac, whose country presently holds the rotating presidency of the EU, held his first talks with Zemin at his host's residence in this east Chinese town.
After a handshake for photographers, to whom Zemin said "merci beaucoup" in French, the two presidents retired for their first talks which are likely to include China's accession to the WTO and human rights.
Chirac on Friday told reporters in Seoul he was optimistic on China's admission to the World Trade Organization (WTO), one of the main subjects for discussion in talks at Yangzhou Saturday and Sunday, and in Beijing Monday during an EU-China summit.
China's entry to the WTO is a "resolved problem," Chirac said, emphasizing that Beijing had already signed accords with the EU, the United States and with "almost all of" the members of the international trade body.
"There remain not more than two countries" which have not signed, for "technical problems" rather than "for substantial problems," he said. "It's just a matter of days."
Chinese spokesman Sun Yu Xi, when told of the statement, expressed surprise, saying: "That is very good news, we have been working hard all along."
Chirac will also raise the sensitive subject of human rights with Chinese representatives. The French president hoped Beijing would ratify "as quickly as possible" the two UN pacts on human rights which the Chinese government signed three years ago.
France's planned sale of a satellite to Taiwan may also be on the agenda.
Beijing wants Paris to cancel the 75 million dollar deal for the ROCSAT-2 observation satellite Aerospatiale Matra has agreed to deliver to Taiwan by the end of 2003.
While France insists the satellite is purely for commercial use, China says it has military capabilities and the sale is in violation of a 1994 commitment by France not to sell arms to the island.
Pressure over the satellite deal has so far been confined to diplomatic channels, and China hopes Chirac's visit will help defuse the row.
"China and France should do the utmost to get rid of these kinds of disturbances and approach bilateral relations from a long term and overall perspective," said Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Zhu Bangzao.
This visit to Yangzhou, Chirac's second trip as French president, is in return for the weekend which Zemin spent a year ago at Bity chateau, Chirac's family home in Correze, central France.
At that time an improvised dance between the Zemin and Chirac's wife Bernadette sparked a debate by human rights campaigners.
For his return invitation to Chirac, in the absence of his spouse -- who had to stay in France for family reasons -- Zemin chose his home town, a historic town situated where the Imperial Grand Canal flows into the Yantze river.
Following dinner Saturday, Chirac and Zemin are due to have a working breakfast Sunday, followed by a visit to a museum and the tomb of Emperor Guangling.
The French president will arrive in Beijing Sunday afternoon and Monday will join the third EU-China summit followed by brief bilateral talks -- YANGZHOU (AFP)
© 2000 Al Bawaba (www.albawaba.com)
