China and France are major countries representing Eastern culture and Western culture respectively. Cultural exchanges between the two sides have played significant roles in bilateral relations.   
  
The French are familiar with Chinese history and culture. In 1933, well-known French writer Andre Malraux wrote an article about the Shanghai Massacre, which won him the Goncourt Prize for Literature. The chairman of the organizing committee of China-France Culture Year, Jean-Pierre Angremy, was a French diplomat to China in 1964. He wrote several books about the mysterious Chinese nation, and one of them was awarded the Renaudot Prize in France.

French President Jacques Chirac is also keen on Chinese culture. He has read a lot of books on Chinese history and cultural relics. During his visit to western China's Xi'an City, he praised the Terracotta Warrior as the eighth wonder of the world.

Meanwhile, Chinese artists have also won honors from western countries. 83-year-old Chinese painter Zhu Dequn is the first Chinese Academician of the French National Art and Science Academy. Books written by Chinese novelist Shan Sa, winner of the Goncourt prize, have been best sellers in France. President Chirac called her "the messenger of Chinese-French culture".

So far, China and France currently boasts 47 pairs of sister provinces and cities, and the two sides have an average of 200 cultural exchange projects every year. "China-France Culture Year," the largest cultural exchange activity ever hosted by China and a foreign country is a bridge for improving understanding between the two peoples. It also pushes forward friendly relations between the two countries.  

Editor: Catherine