Partners jointly respond to challenges

Fifty years ago on Jan 27, chairman Mao Zedong and president Charles de Gaulle made a historic decision to establish diplomatic relations between China and France, thus opening the door to friendship and cooperation between the two big countries with major influence. This visionary and momentous decision brought a warm breeze to the international relations in the Cold War era and had a far-reaching impact on the evolution of the international landscape.

Over the past five decades, amidst great vicissitudes in the world, both China and France have experienced profound changes. Nevertheless, the two sides have always regarded each other as long-term partners of strategic cooperation, steadfastly advanced mutually beneficial cooperation across the board, and stayed committed to enhancing the friendship between the two peoples.

Together, we have pushed the world toward greater balance - the North-South gap is narrowing; consensus is growing on promoting democracy in international relations; and diversity has become a deeply entrenched idea.