While United States President Barack Obama is expected to announce trade deals worth $10 billion with India, Chinese President.Hu Jintao has already signed trade deals worth $20 billion with French President Nicholas Sarkozy during his recent visit to the European nation.

France also sought China's help during the upcoming G20 summit that will be held from Seoul from November 13. The two leaders also reportedly discussed reforms in the international monetary system and regulation of commodities' prices.

Hu is now headed to Portugal, where he is expected to continue the communist nation's efforts to purchase cheap government debt in countries worst affected by the global meltdown.

But despite both nations proclaiming Hu's trip as a 'success', Sarkozy faced severe criticism from detractors for not raising the issue of China's dubious human rights record during their bilateral meeting.

Though Sarkozy claimed that he discussed 'all topics' during Hu's visit, his detractors claimed that he had avoided contentious issues as such mega trade deals were at stake. The French authorities were also criticised for detaining protestors who demonstrated against Hu's visit.

France and China signed 15 agreements on aviation and energy sectors worth $20 billion, sources said. But in a significant departure from protocol, Sarkozy and Hu didn't address a joint press conference.

Image: France's President Nicolas Sarkozy with China's President Hu Jintao | Photograph: Lionel Bonaventure/Reuters