The 60th anniversary of diplomatic ties between China and France is being celebrated this year. Over the past six decades, the two countries have strengthened cooperation in areas ranging from the economy and trade, innovation and green development to culture and tourism.

In 1964, France became the first major Western country to establish formal diplomatic relations with China at the ambassadorial level. The year 2024 is the China-France Year of Culture and Tourism, and, as of now, there are 113 pairs of sister provinces and cities between the two nations.

China is France's largest trading partner in Asia and the seventh largest globally. Meanwhile, France is China's third-largest trading partner and the third-largest source of investment in the European Union.

Total trade between the two countries was $78.9 billion in 2023, with an average year-on-year increase of 5.9 percent from 2019 to 2023. Over the past five years, China's imports of consumer goods from France have grown at an average annual rate of 12.3 percent, while China's imports of material technology products, biotechnology products and integrated circuits from France have all grown at double-digit rates.

In honor of the 60th anniversary of diplomatic ties, "Chart of the Day" takes a deep dive into the wide-ranging history of cooperation between China and France.