On October 21, State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi and French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian co-chaired the fifth meeting of China-France High-level Mechanism for Dialogue on People-to-People Exchanges in Paris.

Wang Yi said, President Xi Jinping paid a successful state visit to France in March this year, opening a new chapter in Sino-French relations. The heads of state of the two countries attached importance to and promoted the people-to-people exchanges from a strategic and a long-term perspective, and instructed us to give full play to the overall coordination role of the China-France High-level Mechanism for Dialogue on People-to-People Exchanges. The two sides should implement the important consensus and instructions of the heads of state of the two countries, run this mechanism well, excavate the unique people-to-people advantages of the two countries, vigorously strengthen the social and public foundation, and build a more solid, stable and dynamic

comprehensive strategic partnership between China and France.

First, we should promote mutual learning among civilizations. We shall set an example for the harmonious coexistence and cooperation of different civilizations.

Second, we should focus on future cooperation. We will comprehensively deepen the training of high-level talents in colleges and universities of the two countries, expand the scale of two-way study abroad, and improve the level of cooperation in running schools.

Third, we should strengthen project leadership. We shall concentrate resources on building promising projects. We will seize the important opportunities for the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympic Games and the 2024 Paris Summer Olympic Games, and improve the level of event preparation and sports cooperation.

Fourth, we should expand the participation of the people. We should not only open up the main channels of intergovernmental cooperation, but also enrich the platforms of people-to-people exchanges, and actively promote exchanges and cooperation between young people and women.

Le Drian fully agreed with the Chinese proposals. He said, the China-France High-level Mechanism for Dialogue on People-to-People Exchanges has become an important part of French-Chinese relations, and cooperation has achieved remarkable results. In the spirit of openness and mutual respect, France is willing to deepen people-to-people exchanges and cooperation with China. We should promote more results, better benefit the peoples of the two countries, and jointly advocate dialogue between civilizations and mutual learning. France hopes to work with China to celebrate the year of culture and tourism in 2021, and promote exchanges and cooperation in sports, education, youth, women, local and other fields.

Responsible persons of relevant departments of the two countries attended the meeting. The two sides reviewed the achievements in education, science and technology, culture, tourism, sports and other fields and key cooperation projects in the next stage, and reached a series of cooperation documents.