BEIJING, Nov. 26 (Xinhua) -- More competent medium and small-sized companies should bravely explore the Chinese market, said French Minister of Economy Christine Lagarde here on Monday at the Sino-French business forum.

"Last year I was in Beijing for an opening ceremony of a French small-sized company, and this year I'm very happy to witness their fast development," said Lagarde. "Other French companies should also take action."

More than 200 entrepreneurs from French medium and small-sized companies and some 100 Chinese entrepreneurs attended the first day of the Sino-French business forum.

"Fast developing China is attracting more and more young European architects," said Marie-Caroline Piot, general manager of the 50-member Architecture-Studio from France, which set foot in China ten years ago.

The forum, scheduled to also be held in Shanghai, Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Chengdu and Hong Kong, is expected to draw some 550 Chinese medium and small-sized companies and hold more than 4,000 business talks between the two countries.

The 200-plus French companies which attended the forum are from industries including food, consumables, industrial facilities, medicine, infrastructure, entertainment and tourism.

French President Nicolas Sarkozy stressed the commercial cooperation between the two countries on Sunday during his first state visit to China since taking office in May.