Former French Premier Jean-Pierre Raffarin (sixth from left) and Chinese Vice Premier Liu Yandong (seventh from left) attend the Sino-French Cultural Forum in Beijing on Thursday. Photo: Courtesy of Mao Jingkun

Chinese Vice Premier Liu Yandong and former French Premier Jean-Pierre Raffarin kicked off the first Sino-French Cultural Forum in Beijing on Thursday. The first non-governmental cultural platform between the two countries, the forum received the support of top leaders in both China and France. In a congratulatory letter read at the forum, Chinese President Xi Jinping expressed the hope that the forum will develop into a major platform for communication and cultural exchanges between the peoples of China and France.  

In the spirit of cross-culture communication, Raffarin, whose visit to China in 2003 as premier when the country was still troubled by SARS led to many Chinese to consider him a friend to the country, began his speech with a friendly "ni hao," or hello in Chinese.

In his speech he emphasized how the establishment of a non-governmental cultural forum was an important first step for communication and exchange between the two countries.

French President François Hollande also sent a congratulatory letter to express French support for the forum.

The opening wasn't only attended by politicians. French architect Paul Andreu delivered a keynote speech about the role culture plays in exchanges between countries.

As part of the forum, the International Dehua Porcelain Exhibition, a review of Sino-French exchange and communication history, as well as discussions between mayors of Chinese and French cities on urban development and the creative culture industry were held on Thursday and Friday.

The forum was organized by the Western Returned Scholars Association and the China France Cultural Research Center.

According to an agreement Chen Zhu, chairman of the Western Returned Scholars Association, and Raffarin reached in March of 2015, China and France will take turns hosting the annual cultural forum.

Next year's event will move to the French city of Lyon.

Global Times