The European Union had earlier renewed year-old sanctions against Mugabe and 71 of his associates, but France successfully pressed for a waiver to have the Zimbabwean leader attend its 22nd biennial gathering with African leaders.
Chirac defended the invitation as a way to confront Mugabe face-to-face over the political and economic turmoil engulfing his country.
Chirac, UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan and Cameroonian President Paul Biya, who hosted the previous Franco-African summit, delivered the first speeches of the day.
Discussions following the inaugural ceremony were held behind closed doors.
The summit was held in the context of a decision by Chirac to place Africa at the top of France’s foreign policy agenda and to renew Paris’ commitment to help boost economic development and promote peace and security in Africa.
The French leader "in fact wants to once again make Africa one of France’s priorities," his office noted.
At the summit, Chirac urged the international community to step up its efforts to help African countries in need, ahead of the Group of Eight (G8) summit in June in the French resort of Évian-les-Bains.
Economic development in Africa is expected to top the agenda at the G8 gathering.
More than 3,000 policemen were deployed to protect the visiting dignitaries and control several planned demonstrations.
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