What's special in China-France ties?

World
Europe

02:29

"Special" is the word Chinese President Xi Jinping used to describe China-France ties. "China-France relations have become a special relationship among the world's major countries, always at the forefront of China's relations with major Western developed countries," Xi once said in 2014.

Xi is currently on state visits to Italy, Monaco and France from March 21 to 26, his first overseas trip in 2019. Xi's visit to France, his second within five years, will coincide with the 55th anniversary of China-France diplomatic ties.

55 years on, China-France ties are entering a new stage

During his visit, Xi will hold talks with French President Emmanuel Macron, meet with Prime Minister Edouard Philippe, Speaker of the Senate and President of the National Assembly, according to the Chinese Foreign Ministry.

So what are the specialties in China-France ties?

CGTN Graphic

The 'firsts' France made with China

-The first major country in the West that established the diplomatic relationship with the People's Republic of China

-The first major Western country to have established the comprehensive strategic partnership and institutionalized the strategic dialogue with China

-The first Western country to engage in civil nuclear energy cooperation with China

-The first Western country to sign an inter-governmental science and technology cooperation agreement with China

-The first Western country to open direct flights with China

-The first country to exchange with China in hosting the cultural year and setting up cultural centers

-Also the first major Western country to conduct youth exchanges with China

CGTN Graphic

Work-study program in France

This year also marks the 100th anniversary of work-study programs, which brought Chinese students to France to work in factories to pay for their study of French culture and Western science.

Nearly 100 years ago, groups of Chinese young people harboring the dream of saving the nation, traveled far away abroad to learn new ideas. Many of them chose France as their destination, among whom were Zhou Enlai, Deng Xiaoping and Chen Yi, the founders of the People's Republic of China, as well as scientists like Qian Sanqiang and Yan Jici, artists like Xu Beihong and Xian Xinghai, litterateurs like Ba Jin and Qian Zhongshu.

Chinese President Xi Jinping (2nd L), his wife Peng Liyuan (1st L), French Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius (3rd R) and Lyon's mayor Gerard Collomb (2nd R) take part in an unveiling ceremony for the history museum of the Lyon Sino-French Institute in Lyon, France, March 26, 2014. /Xinhua Photo

And the Lyon Sino-French Institute is the place that gathered those overseas Chinese students in France. In March 2014, Xi visited the Lyon Sino-French Institute. Founded in 1921, the institute is the only overseas university institution that China founded in modern times.

BRI infuses new vigor into bilateral cooperation

In March 2014, Xi paid his first visit to France as president and the first city he chose to visit was Lyon, one of the final stops of the ancient Silk Road trade routes.

In January 2018, Macron paid his first visit to China and his first stop was Xi'an city, the beginning of the ancient Silk Road.

During Macron's China visit, he said France values bilateral cooperation under the framework of the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), and called on Europe to participate in the project.

Last June, the French Senate issued an assessment report on the BRI, calling on French companies and local governments to actively participate in the cooperation with China within the BRI framework.

Speaking of the pragmatic cooperation between the two countries, there are plenty of mega cooperative projects, such as Taishan nuclear power plant, Airbus A330 completion and delivery center in North China's Tianjin Municipality, the China-France Oceanography Satellite and China-Europe Railway Express linking Wuhan and Lyon.