The launch ceremony of the book "The History of the Establishment of Diplomatic Relations between China and France (French version)" was held at China Cultural Center in Paris on March 26.

Ling Li, Deputy Director of the Third Bureau of China's State Council Information Office and representative of SCIO Minister Cai Mingzhao, made a speech during the ceremony of the book "The History of the Establishment of Diplomatic Relations between China and France (French version)". [China.org.cn/Li Xiaohua]

The launch comes during Chinese President Xi Jinping's state visit to France.

Co-published by Hachette Livre and the Anhui Publishing Group, the book is a leading program under the support of China's State Council Information Office (SCIO) to mark the 50th anniversary of Chinese-French diplomatic relations.

"The publication of the book was a result of cooperation between Chinese and French publishers. Books are the envoy for cultural exchanges, and are important in the interaction between different civilizations," said Ling Li, deputy director of the Third Bureau of the SCIO and representative of SCIO Minister Cai Mingzhao.

Chairman Mao Zedong and General Charles de Gaulle decided to establish diplomatic relations in 1964, making France the first Western country to establish diplomatic relations with China. General Fran?ois Kessler, managing director of the Charles de Gaulle Foundation, said during the launch ceremony that the book would give readers "a full understanding of the entire process of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and France."

Written by Huang Qinghua, a professor at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, the book delineates the historical background and the entire process of establishing Chinese-French diplomatic relations, including how the two nations expressed their intention to establish relations, the negotiation and announcement of the establishment, and the exchange of ambassadors.

Ronald Blunden, senior vice president of Hachette, and Wang Yafei, president of the Anhui Publishing Group, expressed their desires to further publication cooperation between China and France during the ceremony.