French President Emmanuel Macron hailed the country's friendship with China on Friday after his visit to a renowned university in Guangzhou, capital of southern China's Guangdong Province, where he was welcomed by thousands of Chinese students.
Friday was the final leg of Macron's three-day visit to China. He traveled south to Guangzhou, a port city, after two days of deep and friendly exchanges in Beijing.
At the Sun Yat-sen University campus, he shook hands and took pictures with students, and then made his way to a gymnasium for a question-and-answer session.
"From Beijing to Guangzhou, I have met students who are learning our language, enthusiastic and dynamic young people, entrepreneurs keen to innovate, and artists inspired by France," Macron said via Twitter.
"There is so much for us to do together. Long live the friendship between China and France," Macron continued.
French President Emmanuel Macron (C) is welcomed by students at Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou City, southern China's Guangdong Province, April 7, 2023. /CFP
After his visit to the university, he enjoyed a walk and informal meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping in the Pine Garden.
The two leaders strolled through the garden close to Baiyun Mountain, chatting and stopping at times to enjoy the unique scenery of the southern Chinese garden and had tea by the water, enjoying the view and discussing the past and present.
The two leaders vowed to maintain close strategic communication and to promote the China-France comprehensive strategic partnership to a higher level. Both agreed that the visit had been very successful and fruitful, and would give a strong impetus to the further development of bilateral relations.
"Thanks, Guangzhou. France-China friendship lasts forever," Macron tweeted in Chinese.