Former French PM on expanding Sino-French cooperation beyond intellectual circles

China and France, which have cooperated in many areas since the establishment of diplomatic relations 60 years ago, should expand cooperation beyond intellectual circles to civilian fields, which will further enrich the shared future of both countries, said former French Prime Minister Jean-Pierre Raffarin.

He made the remarks in an interview with the China Global Television Network (CGTN) on the sidelines of the ongoing 7th China International Import Expo (CIIE) in Chinese metropolis Shanghai.

Speaking with CGTN, Raffarin highlighted the importance of cultural and educational integration in the bilateral relations.

"The cornerstone of Sino-French ties lies in the deep integration of culture and education, which necessitates our continuous effort to deepen bilateral exchanges. Over the past six decades, China and France have implemented numerous policies to facilitate cooperation in engineering, economy and trade, entrepreneur exchanges, healthcare and other fields. These valuable initiatives should be continued and further developed," he said.

Raffarin also emphasized extending cooperation beyond intellectual circles to civilian fields and strengthening ties in manual labor, where both nations have rich traditions, will further enrich the shared future of both countries.

"We must strive to promote more exchanges among young talents between China and France, as only in this way can the younger generation work together to contribute to the common future of both countries. I firmly believe that the future landscape of Sino-French exchanges should not be confined to interactions among intellectual circles, but should extend to broader and more civilian areas of life, such as bakeries, automotive repairs and other manual labor industries. Both China and France possess long-standing and exceptional traditions in manual labor. The potential for cooperation between the two countries in this field is immense. Therefore, our cooperation should not only deepen among intellectuals, but also promote skill exchanges and collaboration among manual workers," he said.

Former French PM on expanding Sino-French cooperation beyond intellectual circles

Italian President Sergio Mattarella toured the Summer Palace in Beijing on Thursday, after arriving in China earlier in the day for a six-day state visit at the invitation of Chinese President Xi Jinping.

The once imperial garden, located in the western suburb of Beijing, is the first place the Italian president visited on his first trip to China since February 2017.

He was accompanied by his daughter Laura and several Italian ministerial officials.

During the nearly one-hour trip, Mattarella learned about stories in China's history and garden landscaping in the long corridor, climbed atop the Longevity Hill to explore similarities and differences between Chinese and Italian religious cultures, and took a cruise to enjoy the sunset over the Kunming Lake.

China and Italy both have ancient civilizations. The mutual attraction between them has become precious wealth for both sides and continues to this day.

Mattarella also said earlier that promoting the exploration of the potential of the cultural and creative industries of Italy and China could bring fruitful results to both sides.

Choosing the Summer Palace as the first stop of the Italian president's visit to China also shows Italy's willingness to deepen cooperation with China in cultural heritage protection.

This year marks the 20th anniversary of the China-Italy comprehensive strategic partnership.

In July, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni visited China. In less than half a year, two important Italian politicians have visited China successively, highlighting the high level of development of China-Italy relations.

The two countries expect to take the opportunity to further expand practical cooperation and people-to-people and cultural exchanges.

The Summer Palace is the largest and best-preserved imperial garden in China, and among the most noted classical gardens in the world. It was inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1998.

Italian president tours Summer Palace in Beijing