Former French Prime Minister Jean-Pierre Raffarin has underscored the critical need for China and France to collaborate in tackling global challenges.
In an interview on the sidelines of the 7th China-France Cultural Forum held in Changsha, Hunan Province in early November, Raffarin outlined some key areas for potential cooperation between the two countries.
"I believe that China and France should collaborate to address a number of challenges facing the modern world, including those related to artificial intelligence (AI), ecological transition, and multilateralism. I think it is essential for us to align our future positions and engage in forward-looking dialogue. This dialogue should not only focus on the current research advancements but also consider what our world might look like in 2040 and 2050," he said.
Noting that the world is undergoing rapid transformations, Raffarin emphasized that cooperation between China and France should focus on providing regulatory solutions to ensure that technologies serve humanity.
"Our world is undergoing rapid transformations. While China has adapted to this pace, Europe is still catching up -- the ecological transition is accelerating, information is spreading rapidly, and AI is advancing at an unprecedented rate. In this context, it is crucial for China and France to envision a future that isn't far off, which I think will be 2040. What will China-French cooperation look like in 2040? Their cooperation must focus on providing shared solutions regarding the regulation of global transformations, particularly in the major areas experiencing significant upheaval, such as, AI, health, and transportation. On some critical issues, we must ensure that the human dimension of our civilizations is defended, so that technology serves humanity rather than the other way around," he said.
Former French PM underscores China-France collaboration in tackling global challenges
