Born in Beijing, Annick de Kermadec Bentzmann has spent more than two decades in both Beijing and Shanghai.

"I have seen the fundamental changes taking place in these two cities," said Bentzmann, president of the French Chamber of Commerce and Industry in China (CCIFC). "And I have witnessed the strengthening of Sino-French relations."

The business veteran predicted economic relations between China and France should advance at a rapid pace in the years to come.

Trade and investment

"Bilateral trade volume and investment in the past years suggest a promising future," said the CCIFC chief.

Trade volume between the two grew by 31.3 per cent in 2004 over the previous year to US$17.59 billion, according to figures from the Chinese Ministry of Commerce (MOFCOM).

Statistics from the French side show that bilateral trade reached 21.8 billion euros (US$26.6 billion), progressing by 22 per cent in 2004. Meanwhile French exports to China hit 5.3 billion euros (US$6.5 billion) and imports from China amounted to 16.5 billion euros (US$20.1 billion).

For 10 consecutive years prior to 2002, China-France trade relations grew at a steady annual rate of 14 per cent.

These figures saw China rise to eighth among France's trade partners, with France becoming one of China's major EU trade partners.

In the first five months of this year, the volume of exports from France to China increased by 37.5 per cent, compared to 14.9 per cent in 2004.

At the same time, total French investments amounted to 7 billion euros (US$8.5 billion), representing 4 per cent of the total foreign direct investments in China. Even more striking is the fact that 230,000 Chinese workers are being employed by French companies in China.

CCIFC's efforts

"Our chamber, with a main goal of promoting bilateral trade and investment, is striving to facilitate trade and investment flows between France and China," Bentzmann said.

The CCIFC will also further enhance co-operation with local partners, including the French, Chinese and European authorities.

In addition to investment to China, the CCIFC will pay closer attention to the development of Chinese investments in France.

"We work alongside the 'Invest in France Agency,' which has been set up to promote foreign investments in France, in this respect," the president explained.

Created in 1992, the CCIFC has established offices in Beijing, Shanghai and Guangzhou with a total of 31 permanent staff and 30 board members in China.

"We particularly focus on improving business support and creating new services for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), fostering their development and operations in the Chinese market," Bentzmann said.

She said the CCIFC had set up two working groups in Beijing and Shanghai to deal with this sector.

"They are active in the two cities providing useful information to SMEs and giving them a platform to share their experience of the Chinese market," she added.

The CCIFC is also providing French chambers in France with useful information on China and ways to access the Chinese market for their members, mostly SMEs.

The chamber is using two major events to draw focus to this subject in 2005: the Sino-French Forum for SMEs in Guangzhou from September 12 to 14 and similarly-themed forum in Shanghai from November 16 to 19, taking along several hundreds of French SMEs to China.

There are also plans to build upon the CCIFC's current achievements in China by boosting the number of members to more than 1,000 next year from 850 at present.

"Our members are widely positive about the Chinese market, considering the fact that the French business presence in China is growing stronger day by day," said Bentzmann.

She noted that the number of French people in Shanghai has hit 6,500, compared with 2,500 three years ago.

"These figures speak for themselves," she stressed.

Cultural year

In addition to the economic relations, China and France are enjoying a growing overall relationship.

"The Sino-French Cultural Year has given a fantastic boost to bilateral ties," said Bentzmann.

During the Year of France in China, which ended on September 18 in Beijing, a large number of activities were organized. And a cultural centre, the first of its kind, was set up in Beijing last year.

The most remarkable aspect of these events was that 50 major French and Chinese sponsors were brought together to back the project, quite an exception and a feat in itself, the president said.

"It is a very encouraging example to be followed within the France-China business circles," she said.

She believes that such a comprehensive and thorough cultural dialogue has enhanced bilateral ties, as the cultural initiative of France was instrumental in nurturing awareness and understanding between the two countries.

(China Daily 09/20/2005 page2)