On July 31st, President Li Xiaolin met with H.E. Mme. Sylvie Bermann, the outgoing French Ambassador to China.

President Li thanked Ambassador Bermann for her abundant and fruitful works on developing Sino-French relations in her term of office, especially her support to the friendly exchanges developed by CPAFFC. She introduced 2 important events on French affairs in this year:

1. In early this year, the CPAFFC held the reception marking 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties between China and France. Zhang Dejiang, Chairman of National People’s Congress and  Claude  Bartolone , President of French National Assembly were present at the reception and delivered important speeches respectively. This  revealed Sino-French relation had reached a high level.

2.In this early November, 4th High-Level Forum of Chinese and French Local Governments will be held in Strasbourg, the capital city of  region Alsace. Preparatory works are carried out smoothly currently.

President Li emphasized that, there was a large space of the cooperation between China and France at present, especially in cultural exchange. The CPAFFC would like to work with the French Embassy in China closely, to push the bilateral relation of the two countries to a higher level.

Ambassador Bermann said, this year was an important year for Sino-French relation. Currently, the bilateral relation was developing smoothly. During the visit to France of the Chinese President Xi Jinping, Medium and Long-Term Program of Sino-French Relation was signed. The number of the celebrating events marking 50th anniversary of Sino-French diplomatic ties were nearly doubled than scheduled 400. She appreciated and spoke highly of CPAFFC’s work on promoting the cooperation between Sino-French local governments and people-to-people exchanges.

President Li Xiaolin presented Ambassador Bermann the commemorating stamp album marking 60th anniversary of the founding of CPAFFC.

Song Jingwu, Lv Hongwei, Director General and Deputy Director General of Department of European and Asian Affairs attended the meeting.