Since the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and France 55 years ago, China and France have continuously improved the level of a close and lasting comprehensive strategic partnership. Facing the constantly changing globalization trend, France insists on seizing the historical opportunity of China's new round of opening-up and actively participates in multi-bilateral and inter-regional cooperation mechanisms.

Opening Ceremony of 2019 Foundation Prospective and Innovation Conference

2019 Foundation Prospective and Innovation Conference, chaired by RAFFARIN, Former Prime Minister of France, was held in Poitiers on August 30^th, 2019, aiming to promote the stable development of China-France relations. At the invitation of RAFFARIN, Baige ZHAO, Chair of Advisory Committee of RDI, Ping HUANG, Director of Institute of European Studies of CASS, et al, attended the Conference.

Discussion among guests at 2019 Foundation Prospective and Innovation Conference

The Conference, themed "China and Multilateralism", aimed to discuss the positive measures for China and France to continue creating a new order of world multilateralism. Alain ROUSSET, President of Aquitaine District Council of France, Anne-Marie IDRAC, Former Minister of France and Former President of Société Nationale des Chemins de Ferfrançais, Carole COUVERT, Vice President of the French Economic, Social and Environmental Council and Former President of Confédération CFE-CGC, Pascal BONIFACE, President of Institute de Relations Internationales et Stratégiques of France, Cheikh Tidiane GADIO, Director of the Pan-African Institute of Strategic Studies, Member of National Assembly of Senegal and Former Minister of Foreign Affairs of Senegal, Irina BOKOVA, Former Director-General of UNESCO, Sylvie BERMANN, Former Ambassador of France to China, Nicolas CHAPUIS, Ambassador of EU to China, etc. participated in the panel discussions.

RAFFARIN said in his opening speech that Chinese culture attaches great importance to the balance of "Yin and Yang", and such philosophical thoughts have important enlightenment significance for thinking about the evolution of the contemporary world pattern and the cooperative mechanism to safeguard bilateralism. Moreover, it is essential to cooperate with China in the developing and safeguarding multilateralism. He stressed that France should attach importance to China's rising power and its important role in safeguarding multilateralism. China would always play an important role in the process of perfecting multilateralism and creating a new international order, highlighting the significance of strengthening cooperation between France/EU and China.

The Conference had a "Chinese Views" session, at which, Quan KONG, Executive Deputy Director of Foreign Affairs Office of the CCCPC and Former Ambassador of China to France, was invited to deliver a keynote speech, explaining China's position on the development and cooperation of multilateralism.

Special meeting between delegation led by Baige ZHAO and the team led by RAFFARIN

Baige ZHAO, Jean-Pierre RAFFARIN, Ping HUANG, Serge DEGALAIS (from left to right)

The delegation led by ZHAO and the team led by RAFFARIN held a special bilateral meeting to exchange views and reached a consensus on the top-level design for jointly hosting the 2019 Euro-China Green and Smart City Summit on the sideline of the Conference. At the same time, the two sides would jointly set up a bilateral working group to better promote projects under the framework of Green Silk Road and explore potential cooperation opportunities among enterprises, local governments and associations of China and France in the future. The two sides also reached an agreement on strengthening regional cooperation, new scientific and technological exchanges, project connection, and bilateral sustainable and green development, etc.