On March 27, 2014, the commemorative meeting of the 50th anniversary of the establishment of the diplomatic relationship between China and France was held in Paris. Chinese President Xi Jinping and French President François Hollande attended the meeting and delivered important speeches. Xi Jinping reviewed the successful experience of China-France relations over the past 50 years, and stated the policies and views on the development of bilateral relations. He hoped that, in the course of realizing the Chinese Dream and the French Dream, both peoples of China and France will understand each other and help each other, so that they will realize together the “China-France Dream”.

Around 5:15 p.m. local time, Xi Jinping and Hollande walked into the hall side by side. Guests from all circles of China and France were in waiting. They welcomed the heads of state with warm applause. The two heads of state delivered speeches respectively.

In his speech, Xi Jinping said, China-France relations are at a significant moment serving as a link between past and future. Coming to France, I brought the happy memories of Chinese government and the Chinese people of China-France friendship and their sincere wishes to deepen China-France comprehensive and strategic partnership. 50 years ago, Chairman Mao Zedong and General Charles De Gaulle, with extraordinary strategic insight, resolutely made the historic decision of establishing the comprehensive diplomatic relationship between China and France. From then on, China-France relations have become a special relationship among world major countries, always at the forefront of China’s relations with major Western developed countries.

Xi Jinping pointed out, to review the past 50 years, the two countries and two peoples have jointly cultivated the spirits of independence, mutual understanding, great foresight and win-win cooperation in developing the bilateral relations. Both countries have worked out a development path in line with their own national conditions. Both China and France have been adhering to an independent foreign policy and actively advocating and committing themselves to multilateralism and world multipolarization. Both sides have respected each other, treated each other equally and trusted each other, and distinctive cultures of the two countries deeply appeal to people from each other. Generations of leadership of the two countries, with strategic insight and great foresight, have carried out many pioneering strategic cooperation. China-France cooperation, as a win-win cause, will certainly create more and more welfare for the two nations, and provide powerful driving force for the sustainable development of China-France relations. This spirit is of important guiding significance for both sides to open up a more beautiful future of China-France relations.

Xi Jinping stressed, we should seize the moment, look forward into tomorrow, and better blueprint the future development of China-France relations, so as to make China-France relations closer, more enduring and more special.

First, to adhere to mutual respect and mutual trust. Both sides should firmly hold the right direction of developing bilateral relations, should firmly support each other’s efforts to safeguard their core interests of sovereignty, security and development, should strengthen strategic dialogues, and should deepen strategic cooperation, to consolidate the political foundation of China-France relations.

Second, to adhere to mutual benefit and win-win results. Both sides should firmly establish the awareness of interest community, seek for more integrating points of interests, and deepen economic cooperation, so as to consolidate the economic foundation for China-France relations.

Third, to adhere to the friendship from generation to generation. The two sides should actively promote all circles of society in both countries to conduct extensive exchanges and cooperation, so as to construct a solid social foundation for China-France relations.

Fourth, to adhere to openness, progress, and anti-protectionism. The two sides should strengthen coordination on macroeconomic policy, push forward the reform in international economic, financial and currency systems, so as to jointly promote world economic growth.

Fifth, to maintain close coordination. The two sides should reinforce coordination and cooperation in international and regional affairs, safeguard world peace, and join hands to cope with global challenges, so as to make China-France relations an important force that safeguards world peace and promotes human progress.

Xi Jinping pointed out, the Chinese people are striving for realizing the Chinese Dream of the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation. The Chinese Dream stands for the dream of pursuing peace, the dream of pursuing happiness, and the dream of dedication to the world. President Hollande also put forward the French Dream. The Chinese Dream is the opportunity for the French Dream, and the French Dream is also the opportunity for the Chinese Dream. It is our only right choice to open up the new era of a close and enduring China-France comprehensive and strategic partnership. We hope that the two countries and the two peoples could understand each other and help each other in the course of realizing the Chinese Dream and the French Dream, join hands to realize the “China-France Dream”.

To conclude, Xi Jinping stressed, China-France friendship is the fruit coming from the hard work of the two peoples. Recalling the past in the light of the present, I am fully confident in continuing the promotion of the cause of China-France friendship standing at the new historical starting point. Let us join our efforts to create bright prospects for China-France relations.

Hollande said in his speech that, 50 years ago, France became the first major country in the West that established the diplomatic relationship with the People’s Republic of China. It demonstrates the profound friendship of the two countries as well as their foresight and vision. Over the past half century, China has scored tremendous achievements and developed into the second largest economy in the world, seeing a remarkable elevation of its international status and influence. France has been constantly moving ahead as well, and it has become the second largest economy in the EU, leading the world in many aspects. In the new historical period, France-China cooperation enjoys a more solid foundation and broader prospects. Both countries advocate world multipolarization, and facilitate world peace and prosperity hand-in-hand. Both countries are pushing forward reform and innovation, and regard each other as the development opportunity. The French side is willing to reproduce the strategic foresight and political courage as it did 50 years ago, and strengthen strategic cooperation in an all-dimensional way with the Chinese side, so as to open up a new era of France-China relations.

In that evening, Xi Jinping and Hollande attended together a concert celebrating the 50th anniversary of the establishment of the diplomatic relationship between China and France.

In the morning that day, Xi Jinping laid a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier of France.

Mme. Peng Liyuan, Wang Huning, Li Zhanshu, Yang Jiechi and others were present at the above events.