Forum celebrates Sino-French ties

Pierre Morel, former French ambassador to China (2nd L) and Wu Jianmin, former Chinese ambassador to France (2nd R) attend a forum to celebrate the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations between China and France. [Photo by Song Jingli/chinadaily.com.cn]

"I like practicing Chinese calligraphy. When I am writing with a brush, I feel myself totally fuse with traditional Chinese culture, which brings me great joy."

                                                                   --- Pierre Morel, former French ambassador to China

"I have stayed abroad for 25 years, through my whole life, and the French culture impresses me most."

                                                                   --- Wu Jianmin, former Chinese ambassador to France

Two former ambassadors discussed cultural exchange and diplomatic milestones in a forum held on Saturday to commemorate the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations between China and France.

The forum in Beijing brought together Wu Jianmin, former Chinese ambassador to France, and his former counterpart Pierre Morel, as well as other important figures from China and France to talk about the two countries' cultural and economic relationship throughout the past five decades.

Video: Ambassadors' dialogue

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China and France, it was agreed upon by the former ambassadors, both boast long and impressive histories and profound cultures.

Wu said China should learn to appreciate other cultures more in order to diversify itself, as France does.

"French people appreciate various cultures around the world, while Chinese people's knowledge about the world is far from adequate, so China should learn from France in this regard," Wu said.

"You can see that museums in France have cultural relics from all over the world, whereas Chinese museums only have their own cultural treasures," Wu told China Daily at the forum.

Chen Zhu, vice-chairman of the National People's Congress, and also the former health minister added, "Every common person is an ambassador, and can make his contribution to the exchanges between China and France."

Chen was nominated as one of the 50 figures considered to have played a substantial role in the Sino-France friendship for his medical science research.

The 50 nominations were initiated by Beijing Yishu 8 and the China Philanthropy Research Institute as a way to mark the cultural exchanges between the two countries.

The selected 50 honorees have numerous, vivid stories which characterize the bilateral friendship, Wu said.

The first round of nominations were announced during the forum, with nine figures from China and six from France. Among those selected was the famous painter Zhu Dequn, pianist Lang Lang, actress Sophie Marceau and designer Pierre Cardin.

Since China and France established diplomatic relations in 1964, the cultural exchanges between the two great civilizations have made constant progress.

More recently, the two countries held Sino-French Culture Years from 2003 to 2005, and a Sino-French Language Year in 2011-2012.