French Foreign Minister Philippe Douste-Blazy asked China yesterday to join a new global initiative to provide people in the developing world easier access to drugs to treat AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria.

Initiated by France and Brazil, the innovative funding mechanism the International Drug Purchase Facility aims to suitably distribute more medicines to people in developing countries at cheaper rates.

At an hour-long meeting with Foreign Minister Li Zhaoxing in Beijing, Douste-Blazy said France was commitmed to the idea because it believed that at least a tiny part of the immense wealth generated by globalization should be set aside every year for the millions people suffering from infectious diseases.

Douste-Blazy, who is on a two-day visit to China, held talks with Premier Wen Jiabao, too.

He welcomed the rapid growth of Sino-African ties, pledging to work with China to help the continent to achieve sustainable development.

Li said China appreciated the France's efforts to have a comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership.

China is satisfied with the healthy development of bilateral ties and "the two sides promise to further enhance cooperation in the fields of aviation, railway, energy, medicine and culture", he said.

The two foreign ministers agreed to continue having strategic consultations on bilateral ties and international affairs, Li said, reiterating their commitment to solving the Iranian nuclear issue diplomatically.

They exchanged views on the global issues, including the peace process in the Middle East and the developments in Iraq.

Before flying home, Douste-Blazy will attend the opening ceremony of a China-France cooperative forum on traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) today and sign an agreement with Health Minister Gao Qiang.

Earlier, the French minister said that he hoped the two countries would cooperate to produce TCMs commercially because a number of French institutes had rich experience in the study of herbs and making of traditional medicines.

Editor: Donald