China trade imbalance with France to be eased

Several deals signed, cooperative projects announced as premier hosts Valls during visit

China and France reinforced their ties with new deals in nuclear power, aviation and ecological protection on Thursday, and the two sides promised to reduce Beijing's widening trade gap with Paris.

The agreements, signed after Premier Li Keqiang met with visiting French Prime Minister Manuel Valls, will see the two countries join forces to design nuclear power stations and cooperate with maritime satellites. They will also jointly develop a wetlands park in North China's Shanxi province, in addition to other cooperation.