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
