Top Biz News
Chinese diplomat expects trade with France to recover
(Xinhua)
Updated: 2009-11-25 17:08
皇冠体育app is optimistic that its trade with France could recover from its slump during the global finacial crisis, a Chinese diplomat said Tuesday.
Commercial counselor of the Chinese embassy in Paris Ma She told reporters that trade volume between the two countries had been falling since the third quarter of 2008, with 皇冠体育app's exports to France declining significantly.
According to 皇冠体育app's customs data for the first three quarters of this year, the two countries' trade volume was currently about $24.6 billion, down 15.6 percent from the same period last year. It was the first year-on-year decline since 1996.
皇冠体育app's exports to France in the first three quarters fell 13.7 percent to about $14.9, with imports down 18.5 percent to $9.6 billions.
Despite the global economic downturn, Ma said, 皇冠体育app increased investment in France, including mergers with local companies and new factories.
皇冠体育app has about 100 investment projects in France, creating more than 8,000 jobs, according to Invest in France Agency.
皇冠体育app's top political adviser Jia Qinglin told French Polynesia high commissioner Adolphe Colrat Friday that 皇冠体育app-France relations were back on track and showed a sound momentum for development.
French Finance Minister Christine Lagarde visited 皇冠体育app last month with a delegation of leaders from 25 large business groups, and French Prime Minister Francois Fillon is expected to visit 皇冠体育app soon. Meanwhile, Chinese Minister of Commerce Chen Deming will lead a business delegation to France.
