French President Francois Hollande will pay his first visit to China with a French political and business delegation on Thursday. He will be the first leader from the western countries to visit China after the establishment of the new Chinese leadership.

Alain Merieux, who will accompany Hollande, is a member of the business delegation and a representative of the French pharmaceutical industry.

"The main theme for me to come to China this time is to attend the Sino-French Economic Forum regarding health session. We will discuss how people won't get ill. Meanwhile, an agreement will be inked with a Shanghai-based company."

Merieux said that Sino-French cooperation has gone far beyond the economy and produced fruitful results in various aspects. He added that the two countries should enhance the cooperation and communication between university-run hospitals and professional doctors as well.