uided by our visionary leaders Chairman Mao Zedong and General Charles de Gaulle, China and France broke through the barriers of the Cold War and established diplomatic relations on January 27, 1964. The event constituted “a diplomatic nuclear explosion,” according to Western media observers of that time. During the following 60 years, the two countries have upheld the principles of independence, mutual understanding, strategic vision, and mutual benefit, a commitment they made when establishing diplomatic ties. These principles have allowed bilateral relations to stand the test of changing times, and remain at the forefront of China’s
