France will develop closer links with western China provinces, which includes Sichuan, said French Ambassador to China Philippe Guelluy Wednesday.

"The economic cooperation between France and Sichuan Province has increased rapidly... and Sichuan has become a major province for France's investment in China," said Guelluy while addressing " Day of France" at the sixth Western China International Economy and Trade Fair, which opened Wednesday in Sichuan's capital, Chengdu.

At a business workshop Wednesday, French Executives Society and French Export Entrepreneurs Association signed agreements with Sichuan's provincial trade promotion council, to facilitate trade cooperation and market expansion between France and Sichuan Province.

"Sichuan and France will enhance their cooperation in wider fields to help increase friendship and understanding between French and Chinese people," said vice governor Huang Xiaoxiang of Sichuan Province.

According to statistics, Sichuan's trade with France hit 200 million US dollars in 2004, with export amounting to 150 million. By the end of 2004, Sichuan was the site of 56 French investment projects, which involved a total contractual foreign capital of 279 million dollars.

.Source: Xinhua