Today's world is plagued by terrorism, cultural conflicts and power politics, French President Jacques Chirac said yesterday.

"You'll live in a changing and complicated world," the French leader told students during a 25-minute speech delivered to 600 students at China's prestigious Peking University.

Peking University President Xu Zhihong (left) presents French President Jacques Chirac with a duplicate plaque of the university's predecessor, the Jing Shi Da Xue Tang or Metropolitan Grand University, yesterday. [newsphoto]
 
"Facing terrorism, power politics, cultural conflicts and growing nationalism, we need unification instead of confrontation," he said.

Chirac reminded Chinese youth of their responsibility for the future of not only their own country but the whole world.

He said young people in China, especially those seated before him, may decide the country's future and even change the world.

"I believe many in the audience today will become future leaders in China," he said. "Your imagination and decisions will shape China as well as the whole world."

Chirac said China would become a major power in the future, possibly the strongest nation in the world, so what happens to China would influence global politics, economy, culture and environment.

He said France and China should work closely for a peaceful world, especially when some countries had broken their commitments and become threats to world peace.

"Multilateralism should play a role in solving the North Korea (the Democratic People's Republic of Korea) and Iran nuclear issues," he said.

Chirac said Europe and Asia might have similar interpretations of international affairs, because both two continents boast long histories and outstanding wisdom.

Besides political conflicts, Chirac reminded that the world is also suffering from global warming, poverty and disease.

He said France had suggested the establishment of an environment organization under the United Nations, and hoped China would actively respond to the proposal. He also considered the China-African Summit and France-African Summit as good times to help Africa's poor.

Answering a student's question about the relationship between sports and politics, Chirac expressed his support for the French national football team and expressed his wish that China could be successful in holding the 2008 Olympic Games and the 2010 World Expo.

Chirac also sent a welcoming message to Chinese students who want to study in France. He said only 5,000 Chinese students had studied in his country ten years ago, but the number has reached 25,000 and will exceed 50,000 in the near future.

Students were impressed by the president's speech and good manner. "His words, behaviour and politeness showed us the gracefulness of the French people," said Yang Suo, a junior student. "But it's a pity that the speech is so short."

Chirac's humour

At the question-and-answer session of his speech at Peking University, 74-year-old Chirac grimaced when he found something was wrong with the questioner's microphone. Shrugging, he said: "It's not my fault at all because I haven't touched it." His quick wit earned him a full hall's worth of laughter and applause.

A right gift

At the end of his speech, Chirac was presented with a duplicate plaque of Peking University's predecessor, the Jing Shi Da Xue Tang or Metropolitan Grand University, when it was opened in December 1898.

Officials said the university chose the gift because of Chirac's great interest in Chinese history. The French president happily accepted the plaque, saying "Thank you!" in Mandarin to his host.

Chinese saying

"If two persons are of one heart, they are strong enough to break metal," said Chirac, quoting a famous Chinese saying to call for unity between China and his country. That demonstrated his rich knowledge of Chinese culture, students said.
 
 
Mega deals cover aviation, railways and power

China and France Thursday signed a series of deals covering aviation, railways and nuclear power in Beijing.

China Aviation Supplies Import and Export Group signed an agreement with Airbus for the purchase of 150 A320 aircraft and a letter of intent for 20 A350XWB.

The purchase represents the largest single transaction ever for Airbus in China, the company said yesterday.

It is also the first time that China has showed interest in buying the A350, Airbus' long-range wide-body model which is available from 2012 and planned as competition to Boeing's new 787.

The European aircraft maker also signed a framework agreement on the establishment of an A320 Family Final Assembly Line in Tianjin.

According to the agreement, aircraft assembly in China will begin in early 2009, with the aim of ramping up production to reach four aircraft per month by 2011.

"While the aircraft sections will continue to be produced in Europe, the establishment of such an assembly line, which will deliver aircraft to the same standards as those produced in Europe, is beneficial to both China and Europe," said Louis Gallois, Airbus president and chief executive officer, at the signing ceremony.

In the field of railways, Alstom of France has signed a letter of intent with the Ministry of Railways to deliver the powerful 500 "Co-Co" (triple axle) locomotives.

The deal is valued at 1.2 billion euros (US$1.5 billion) in total, with Alstom's share worth 300 million euros (US$375 million) and 900 million euros (US$1.13 billion) for its Chinese partner Datong Electric Locomotives.

Alstom will design and produce the first 100 locomotives. Most of the production and quality control of the first 100 units will be carried out at its Belfort (France) plant.

The remaining 400 locomotives will be built at the Datong Electric Locomotives site in China. This company has already partnered Alstom in a 2005 contract to manufacture 180 BoBo electric (twin axle) locomotives.

China Guangdong Nuclear Power Holding Co Ltd and the French national energy group, EDF, signed a deal on nuclear power production, plant construction and project development. EDF also signed an agreement with China Datang Corporation on power plants in China.

Editor: Yan