China's President Xi Jinping and France's President Francois Hollande vowed to keep the world away from domination form any superpower Thursday as the French leader visited in Beijing on a mission to boost trade as France is facing decling economy.

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"China and France are both great countries supporting independence," Xi said at a news conference, adding that the two countries would "actively promote a multipolar world and the democratization of international relations."

Xi and Hollande, who is traveling with a delegation spoke to reporters after meeting at Beijing's Great Hall of the People. "China and France both want a multipolar world. We want there to be a balance. We refuse a world of superpowers," Hollande said. "When China and France agree on a position, it matters."

An agreement for China to buy 60 planes from France-based Airbus was signed. Moreover, French nuclear giant Areva signed an agreement with China National Nuclear Corp. to build a used fuel treatment and recycling facility in the country.

French businesses hit by domestic downturns are hoping for additional deals in China in areas of car making, nuclear energy and food exports. France registered a $34 billion trade deficit with China last year and accounts for less than 2 percent of the Asian giant's foreign trade.

"There is an imbalance in our foreign trade, and we hope to correct that," Hollande said. "Not by reducing our investment and exports, but by increasing them further."