Warmth of relations matched by weather

The two strong spotlights in the center of the small pressroom in the French prime minister's office building made the place even more crowded. Dozens of reporters, diplomats and government officials were waiting for Premier Li Keqiang and his French counterpart, Manuel Valls, to give a briefing on the result of their meeting.

The heat in the room was evident. Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi had taken off his jacket, while Xu Shaoshi, minister of China's National Development and Reform Commission, sitting next to Wang, was fanning himself with a wad of documents.

France issued a heat warning on Tuesday as temperatures soared to 40 C.With no air conditioning, the temperature inside the room was higher.