The Consulate General of France in Guangzhou held a reception to celebrate the French National Day on July 14, 2023.
The celebration was held after French President Emmanuel Macron's visit to Guangzhou on April 7. Sylvain FOURRIERE, Consul General of France in Guangzhou, expressed his gratitude towards the Guangdong government, Chinese friends and the French community who contributed to this visit.
Sylvain FOURRIERE mentioned that the French president's visit to Guangzhou conveyed the desire to relaunch bilateral dialogue and exchanges in all areas. He also highlighted the president's meetings with two major Chinese companies from Guangdong and Fujian, Wencan and XTC, which have chosen to invest in France and develop industrial activities with French partners.
"For the Consulate General of France in Guangzhou, these two meetings are a powerful incentive to step up our efforts, on the one hand, to make it easier for Chinese companies from the region to set up business in France and, on the other, to make French companies more aware of the many assets of Southern China and the formidable Greater Bay Area project."
According to Sylvain FOURRIERE, the two countries are already cooperating and working together on many of these issues relating to the common good concerning humanity's future.
Tan Ling, Vice Chairwoman of the Standing Committee of the People's Congress of Guangdong Province, addressed the reception and said Guangdong enjoyed deep-rooted interaction and engagement with France.
Tan reviewed that a hundred years ago, the Sino-French Institute in Lyon used to be the overseas department of Sun Yat-sen University, and many young Guangdong students went to study in France. Today, Guangdong has set many records in Sino-French economic and trade cooperation. For example, the two countries' nuclear energy collaboration began with the Daya Bay nuclear power plant, and Airbus and Sanofi both established their first innovation center in Shenzhen. The province accounts for nearly one-fifth of China's total trade with France.
"In 2024, China and France will celebrate the 60th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations and the Year of Culture and Tourism. France will also host the Paris Olympics and Paralympics, which will usher in broad prospects for exchanges and cooperation between the two countries in various fields, including diplomacy, trade and economy, tourism, culture and sports," Tan said.
Reporter: Monica, Ariel
Editor: Olivia, James
Photos provided to GDToday.
