Chinese premier meets visiting French president

Chinese Premier Li Keqiang has met French President Francois Hollande on the second day of his visit in China.

Premier Li congratulated Hollande on the achievements of his first visit to China as French president, saying relations between the two countries have reached a new level. Hollande says France and China are key in solving bilateral and global issues, and it is necessary to deepen their cooperation.

On Thursday, officials from the two countries signed an agreement for China to buy 60 planes from France-based Airbus. French nuclear giant Areva has also signed an agreement with China National Nuclear Corporation to build a used nuclear fuel treatment and recycling facility in the country. Bilateral trade topped 51.02 billion US dollars in 2012, including 24.12 billion worth of Chinese imports from France, a 9.3 percent year-on-year growth.