The Chinese and French presidents celebrated the "solidity of the foundation of relations between the two countries and the friendship between the two peoples."

At the conclusion of President Emmanuel Macron's three-day state visit to China, Macron and Chinese President Xi Jinping released a joint declaration.

The key announcements that the two sides agreed to included, strengthening political dialogue and promoting mutual political trust, promoting global security and stability together, promoting economic exchanges, relaunching people and cultural exchanges and jointly addressing global challenges.

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It was the French leader's first trip to China since 2019, and he was accompanied for part of the visit by Ursula von der Leyen, the president of the European Commission.

Close connection of cultures

China describes what is happening in Ukraine as a crisis, and there was a mention of the conflict in the joint French-Chinese declaration.

"Both parties support all efforts to restore peace in Ukraine on the basis of international law and the purposes and principles of the Charter of the United Nations."

On Friday, the French president visited students at a university in Guangzhou, as part of the education and culture side of his tour. French music giant Jean-Michel Jarre is part of the delegation traveling with the president. The electronic producer was the first Western musician to hold an official concert in China in the 1980s. The 74-year-old is also married to Chinese superstar Gong Li.

The two world leaders welcomed a reset of bilateral ties, but aside from the business deals and political agreements, there are other artistic links that illustrate the close connection of cultures.

Next year there will be a continuation of the cultural exchanges. France's famous Palace of Versailles signed a deal with the Forbidden City in Beijing to hold a 2024 exhibition about historic ties between France and China.

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