Xi Jinping arrives in Paris to start state visit to France
On the afternoon of May 5th local time, President Xi Jinping arrived in Paris by special plane to pay a state visit to France at the invitation of President Emmanuel Macron of the French Republic.
When Xi Jinping arrived at Paris Orly Airport on a special plane, he was warmly welcomed by French Prime Minister Attal and other senior French government representatives.
Xi Jinping delivered a written speech. Xi Jinping pointed out that I am very happy to pay my third state visit to France and celebrate the 60th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and France with the French people. As important representatives of Eastern and Western civilizations, China and France have long admired and attracted each other. 60 years ago, China and France broke through the Cold War barriers and established diplomatic relations at the ambassadorial level. Over the past 60 years, China-France relations have always been at the forefront of China's relations with Western countries. The development of China-France relations has not only brought benefits to the people of the two countries, but also injected stability and positive energy into the turbulent world. During the visit, I will have an in-depth exchange of views with President Macron on the development of China-France and China-EU relations under the new situation, as well as current major international and regional issues. I hope that through this visit, we can consolidate the traditional friendship between the two countries, enhance political mutual trust, build strategic consensus, deepen exchanges and cooperation in various fields, use the torch of history to illuminate the way forward, create a better future for China-France relations, and make new contributions to world peace, stability and development.
President Xi Jinping's wife Peng Liyuan, member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and director of the General Office of the CPC Central Committee Cai Qi, member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and Foreign Minister Wang Yi and other accompanying personnel arrived on the same flight.
Chinese Ambassador to France Lu Shaye also went to the airport to greet him.
As Xi Jinping was travelling from the airport to his hotel, overseas Chinese and Chinese students spontaneously waited on both sides of the road, holding up red banners that read "Long live the China-France friendship!" and "Wish President Xi Jinping's visit to France a complete success!", waving the national flags of China and France, beating drums and gongs, and performing dragon and lion dances, warmly welcoming President Xi Jinping's visit.