Chinese top legislator Wu Bangguo met with Marseilles Mayor Jean-Claude Gaudin on Tuesday, vowing to further cooperation at the local level between China and France.
"I am visiting Marseille to push forward the cooperation at the regional level to a new stage," said Wu, chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress (NPC).
Wu hoped Marseille would take the chance of the Shanghai Expo to strengthen cooperation with Shanghai on new energy and materials, public transportation and port construction to contribute to Sino-French relations.
Gaudin said he was expected to cement cooperation with China in the scientific, educational, cultural and tourism areas.
Also on Tuesday, Wu visited Eurocopter and the International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor (ITER). Wu arrived here Monday afternoon after he concluded visit to Bordeaux, southwest port city in France. He will fly to Serbia on Wednesday morning to continue his three-nation Europe tour.