France and China are celebrating 60 years of diplomatic ties this year. Chinese President Xi Jinping visited France last month for a state visit. To further promote relations between the two sides, a Sino-French Education Development Forum has been held in Paris with top education officials from both countries attending. Evangelo Sipsas has more from Paris.

In the heart of the French capital, near the historic Pantheon, Chinese and French health educators have come together to exchange ideas. They want to find more ways to collaborate in the field of education, with a focus on medicine.

HUAI JINPENG Chinese Education Minister "Higher education in a country is its greatest asset and the most substantial support for its economic, social development, and culture. It nurtures excellent talents who create knowledge and facilitate technological transfer, significantly contributing to the international community's development."

They discussed international cooperation. Friday's exhibition showcased the significant role of international education in enhancing understanding, trust, and deepening friendship between the two peoples.

Agreements were also signed in the field of medicine between Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine and the French institutions, focusing on the necessity of student exchange programs. Thirty Chinese students are currently enrolled, with both sides pledging to increase the number.

MARC DELPECH Director, Genetics Laboratory Institut Cochin, Paris University "Sino-French, School of Medicine of Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine; in this school, we will receive 60 students, not 30 we had before, but 60, and half will be clinicians, and half will be researchers. And, we start at the present time, and I am sure, it will grow very rapidly."

EVANGELO SIPSAS Paris "This forum and agreements come as China and France celebrate 60 years of diplomatic ties. For more than a century, the two countries have also shared in other areas, including education, specifically cooperation between hospitals and universities. Back in 1997, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine was incorporated into the bilateral cooperation framework. And today, the two sides are looking to take it a step even further, including AI."

JIANG FAN Shanghai Children's Medical Center "I think we are excited to see the future, you know, because, right now, we are facing the, you know, technology advance. So, traditionally, we involve lots of medical services and also clinical research. In the future, maybe we will also, you know, involve more collaboration in basic science and AI for science. This is a kind of new technology, you know, in both China and France. And also, we should embrace that kind of technology."

After 120 years of education cooperation and 60 years of diplomatic ties, the two countries hope to continue strengthening their global connections. ES, CGTN, Paris.