Chinese President Xi Jinping took in a traditional folk dance performance at the Col du Tourmalet in the French Pyrenees on Tuesday.
President Xi and his wife, Peng Liyuan, were greeted by locals upon their arrival at a dining place in the snowy Pyrenees mountains and then viewed a special outdoor dancing display.
Accompanied by French President Emmanuel Macron and his wife, Brigitte, Xi and Peng watched the dancers perform in their folk clothing, before posing together for a group photo.
Xi arrived in Tarbes of the Hautes-Pyrenees Department in southwestern France earlier in the day, as part of his ongoing state visit to the European country at the invitation of Macron.
France is the first leg of the Chinese president's three-nation European tour from May 5 to 10, which will also see him visit Serbia and Hungary.
Xi treated to local French folk dance performance at Col du Tourmalet
The Central Asia Park was opened on Sunday in the northwestern Chinese city of Xi'an one year after the first China-Central Asia Summit, to showcase the strengthening of regional cooperation.
The park is located near the Xi'an International Exhibition Center, one of the venues for the 2023 China-Central Asia Summit. Sculptures of horses and camel caravans decorate the approximately 53-hectare park, symbolizing the prosperous exchanges over centuries and the beautiful vision of joint development between China and Central Asian countries.
The building at the main entrance of the park is called "Silk Road Meeting Room" and displays gifts from Central Asian countries, including traditional costumes from Kazakhstan and sculptures of "bow shooting" from Kyrgyzstan.
Visitors can buy specialties including snacks and honey from Central Asian countries in the park's shop.
Xi'an is a historical city founded about 3,100 years ago. Formerly known as Chang'an, it is the starting point of the ancient Silk Road, which saw flourishing interactions between China and Central Asia.
The China-Central Asia Summit, held in the city in May 2023, was the first summit held offline by the leaders of the six countries since the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and the five Central Asian states 31 years ago.
Central Asia Park opens in northwest China, highlighting regional cooperation
