On November 24, 2023, Foreign Minister Wang Yi and French Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs Catherine Colonna co-chaired the 6th meeting of the China-France high-level dialogue mechanism on people-to-people exchanges as coordinators of each side in Beijing. The two sides agreed to follow through on the important common understandings reached by the two heads of state and take the 60th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations and the Year of Culture and Tourism between China and France as an opportunity to promote people-to-people and cultural exchanges between the two countries to unleash greater vitality and achieve more results.

Wang Yi said, China and France have a long history of and enjoy close cooperation in people-to-people and cultural exchanges. The two great civilizations of the East and West illuminate each other like two bright lights, and achieve self-growth and innovation through exchanges and mutual learning, showing vigor and vitality and providing spiritual nourishment and intellectual wisdom for human beings. The high-level dialogue mechanism on people-to-people exchanges is one of the three pillar dialogue mechanisms between China and France. It has laid a solid foundation of public opinion for the development of China-France relations and accumulated useful experience for countries with different civilizations and systems to coexist harmoniously.

Wang Yi said, the world has entered a new period of disorder and transformation. Promoting exchanges and dialogue among different civilizations, eliminating estrangement and prejudice, creating a sound atmosphere of openness, inclusiveness and harmonious coexistence in international relations, and sowing the seeds of respect, understanding, friendship and win-win results among people around the world is the right path to peace and also the right direction for historical progress. China and France should comprehensively deepen people-to-people and cultural exchanges, enhance mutual understanding and friendship between the people, and, with the new development, new achievements and new heights of people-to-people and cultural exchanges between China and France, play a positive role as a model for the exchanges between China and Europe and exchanges among global civilizations. Wang Yi put forward China's proposals for planning the next stage of people-to-people and cultural exchanges between the two countries.

First, ensure the success of major activities. The two sides should carry forward the spirit of the era of traditional friendship, solidarity and cooperation between China and France, make good preparations for the activities related to the 60th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations and the Year of Culture and Tourism, and enhance people's sense of participation and fulfillment.

Second, increase personnel exchanges. The two sides should step up efforts to resume various exchange and cooperation mechanisms. Both sides should take the Paris 2024 Summer Olympics as an opportunity to strengthen exchanges between athletes and cooperation in the sports industry of the two countries. The two sides should speed up the resumption of flights between the two countries. China will implement a 15-day visa-free policy for French short-term visitors to China.

Third, enhance mutual understanding. The two sides should encourage exchanges and cooperation among think tanks, scholars, media and sub-national governments. Both sides should support cooperation in language teaching and jointly translate and publish more works from each other's country. The two sides should strengthen cooperation in the protection, restoration and development of cultural heritage.

Fourth, strengthen cooperation on innovation. The two sides should expand cooperation in aviation and aerospace, green and low-carbon development, artificial intelligence, digital technology and others, expand the scale of two-way overseas study, encourage universities and scientific research institutions of the two sides to establish partnerships, and provide talent and intellectual support for scientific and technological progress of China and France.

Catherine Colonna said that in the face of divisions, conflicts and unilateralism challenges, the necessity and importance of enhancing mutual understanding have been further highlighted. People-to-people and cultural exchanges between France and China have a long history and become a strong bond for the development of bilateral relations. The two sides have actively implemented the common understandings reached by the two heads of state, comprehensively resumed France-China people-to-people and cultural exchanges, and pushed forward tangible achievements in bilateral cooperation in various fields. She thanked the Chinese side for facilitating the visit of French people to China, and said that the French side will continue to prioritize people-to-people and cultural exchanges in bilateral cooperation, promote mutually beneficial exchanges, and enhance the friendship between the two peoples.

After the meeting, the two foreign ministers jointly witnessed the signing of cooperation documents on education, scientific research, culture and tourism, health and others, and the release of the list of high-quality people-to-people and cultural exchange activities between China and France in 2024. They also unveiled the logo of the 60th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and France and the China-France Year of Culture and Tourism, visited the China-France Centennial Overseas Study Photo Exhibition and communicated with representatives of overseas students from both countries, and attended the launching ceremony of the China-France Carbon Neutrality Center.

Heads of member departments of the people-to-people exchange mechanism from the two sides attended the meeting and comprehensively took stock of the achievements of cooperation in various fields such as education, science and technology, culture and tourism, health, sports, media, localities, and youth.