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GV PAN: Chairman Hua Guofeng and President Valery giscard D'Estaing arrive for signing ceremonies
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SV AND CU: French and Chinese Ministers signing documents and shaking hands (3 shots)
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SV Second Chinese and French Minister's sign and exchange contracts ZOOM INTO Hua and Giscard shaking hands (2 shots)
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GV Paris Opera House
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SV PAN Hua and Giscard and entourage arriving at opera
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LV INTERIOR: Walk into box ZOOM OUT and back into house giving them standing ovation
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Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved

Background: Chinese Chairman Hua Guofeng and French President Valery Giscard D'Estaing on Wednesday (17 October) signed accords on economic, cultural and economic relations. Chairman Hua went on to spend a gala evening at the Paris Opera. But on Thursday (18 October) the Chinese leader was said to be indisposed and resting on medical advice. Chairman Hua has had a heavy schedule of talks since his arrival in Paris -- his first visit to Western Europe.

SYNOPSIS: The war and famine in Kampuchea were reported to be the focal point of Wednesday's (17 October) extended talks between Chairman Hua Guofeng and President Valery Giscard d'Estaing. Later they said they had agreed on principles but gave no indication of any common proposals.

All the meetings between the two leaders were described as cordial, constructive and fruitful. And the French President has accepted an invitation to visit Peking, probably next year. The accords that were signed covered general agreements on future bilateral issues. But both delegations stressed that the building up of economic links would be spread over years.

A document signed by Yu Qiuli, the Chinese Vice Premier in charge of planning, and Monsieur Jean-Francois Deniau the French Trade Minister, reaffirmed an accord concluded between China and France in Peking in January of this year. Chairman Hua has said repeatedly that he is looking for inspiration and western expertise to help a long-range modernisation programme in China.

Chairman Hua has had a busy programme of speeches, banquets, and private talks with President Giscard. His last evening in Paris was highlighted by a gala performance at the Paris Opera. He was expected to leave on Thursday for a two-day tour of Brittany.

Although Chairman Hua was indisposed on Thursday his Foreign Minister Huang Hua spoke for the delegation and said there would be very grave consequences for world peace if the international community permitted Vietnam to enjoy the fruits of what he termed aggression in Kampuchea. He set out China's Foreign policy on Indochina at a news conference and denounced Vietnam as an "Eastern Cuba". He said China could not permit Vietnam to reign as absolute master in Indochina and be like Cuba in Africa.