Celebrating six decades of friendship and shared prosperity

In celebration of 60 years of fruitful collaboration, China and France are commemorating their enduring economic and trade partnership, highlighted by mutual benefits and resilience in the face of global challenges.

The six-decade milestone underlines the deep-rooted ties between the two nations, showcasing a history of innovation, strategic alignment and shared prosperity. China is France's largest trading partner in Asia, while France is China's third-largest trading partner within the European Union.

Despite increasing global economic uncertainty and escalating geopolitical conflicts in 2023, bilateral trade volume between China and France reached $78.9 billion in sectors ranging from aircraft, satellites and nuclear power plants to wine, cheese and cosmetics.

Seizing opportunities in China has become a priority among an ever-growing number of French companies. For example, aircraft manufacturer Airbus has expanded its cooperation with Chinese partners across the entire industry chain, while French energy giant EDF Group has broadened its collaboration with China from nuclear energy to renewable energy production, power transmission and distribution networks.

Barbara Martin Coppola, CEO of French sports equipment company Decathlon, said that with Paris hosting the Summer Olympics this year, "a unique opportunity" to strengthen cooperation exists. Decathlon hopes to share innovative achievements with Chinese partners and establish more win-win cooperative relationships.

According to Emmanuelle Peres, director-general of the Prospective and Innovation Foundation, celebrating the 60th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the two countries provides a favorable atmosphere for bolstering mutual investment and consolidating partnerships.

"Mutual investment is not just about financial transactions; it is a symbol of innovative cooperation and strategic partnerships," she said.

Pascale Thieffry, director of the French Pavilion at Business France, noted that in 2019, France served as the guest country of honor at the second China International Import Expo, where the leaders of both countries highly praised the quality of bilateral economic and trade cooperation. In this special year for Sino-French relations, France will again be the guest country of honor at the seventh CIIE in November.

With major projects between China and France in full swing, agricultural cooperation is also advancing in a "two-way rush". Both countries are striving to establish a mechanism for the chain from French farms to Chinese consumers, allowing high-quality French agricultural products to reach Chinese dinner tables more quickly.

France was the first major Western country to establish ambassadorial-level diplomatic relations with the People's Republic of China. Over the past 60 years, China-France relations have always been at the forefront of China's relations with Western countries, and their unique history has shaped the "China-France spirit" of independence, mutual understanding, foresight and win-win cooperation.

In recent years, bilateral ties have maintained development momentum, with enhanced cooperation in international and regional affairs. Various departments on both sides have relied on the three major mechanisms of strategic dialogue, high-level economic and financial dialogue, along with cultural exchanges, to implement the important consensus reached by the leaders of the two countries.

This year marks the China-France Year of Culture and Tourism, with a variety of activities taking place in both countries. From traditional Chinese puppet shows by the Fujian-based Zhangzhou Puppet Troupe under the Eiffel Tower to collaborative ice sculptures featuring Notre-Dame de Paris and the Temple of Heaven during the 40th Harbin International Ice and Snow Festival and the Chinese cultural exhibition at the ongoing 2024 Foire de Paris, people from both countries are engaging in lively interactions.

French Minister of Culture Roselyne Bachelot-Narquin said cultural cooperation has always held a vital position in Sino-French relations over the past 60 years, adding: "The peoples of China and France both love culture and are curious about each other."