On January 27, 2024, President Xi Jinping exchanged congratulatory messages with French President Emmanuel Macron on the 60th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries.

Xi Jinping pointed out that 60 years ago, China and France broke the ice of the Cold War and bridged the divide between different blocs to establish diplomatic relations at the ambassadorial level. This historical event has pushed the global landscape to evolve in the right direction of dialogue and cooperation, which still offers inspiration for today. Over the past 60 years, the two countries have adhered to making strategic choices independent of external influence and have always been committed to achieving common development through mutually beneficial cooperation, promoting mutual learning among civilizations through exchanges on an equal footing, and jointly addressing global challenges through multilateral coordination. Bilateral relations have created many firsts and yielded fruitful results, which have not only benefited the people of both countries but also played a vital role in maintaining global peace and stability, promoting a multipolar world, and advancing greater democracy in international relations.

Xi Jinping stressed that the world today has once again reached a critical crossroads. Facing the question of the times and of history on where the world should be headed, China and France, both as independent major countries and permanent members of the United Nations Security Council, should stay true to the original aspiration of establishing diplomatic relations, shoulder their responsibility, undertake their mission, and jointly open up a path of peace, security, prosperity, and progress for human development. Attaching great importance to the development of bilateral relations, Xi Jinping said he stands ready to work with President Emmanuel Macron to take the 60th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations as an opportunity to uphold fundamental principles, break new ground, build on past achievements, open up a new future, and make China-France comprehensive strategic partnership more solid and dynamic, so as to make greater contributions to improving the well-being of the people of the two countries and the world.

Emmanuel Macron said in his congratulatory message that the establishment of diplomatic relations between France and China 60 years ago was a visionary and historic decision. In the face of unprecedented global challenges today, it is all the more important for France and China, as well as Europe and China, to work together in search of common solutions for global challenges. The year 2023 witnessed a comprehensive revitalization of France-China relations, and in 2024, cooperation between the two countries is expected to be further enhanced. Emmanuel Macron said he looks forward to working with President Xi Jinping to promote bilateral economic, trade, cultural, youth, and other exchanges and cooperation, strengthen communication and coordination on global issues, and continually deepen the comprehensive strategic partnership between France and China so as to embrace the new 60 years of France-China relations with positive vitality.