Paris, France - April 29, 2024 (CCTV - No access Chinese mainland)
1. Eiffel Tower
2. Traffic

FILE: Beijing, China - Date Unknown (CGTN - No access Chinese mainland)
3. Fast motion of Tian'anmen Rostrum

FILE: Shanghai, China - Date Unknown (CGTN - No access Chinese mainland)
4. National flags at venue of China International Import Expo (CIIE)
5. Various of former Prime Minister of France Jean-Pierre Raffarin visiting CIIE, delivering speech

FILE: Beijing, China - 2017 (CCTV - No access Chinese mainland)
6. Aerial shots of Forbidden City

FILE: Beijing, China - May 1, 2021 (CCTV - No access Chinese mainland)
7. Aerial shots of Great Wall

Paris, France - Recent (CGTN - No access Chinese mainland)
8. SOUNDBITE (French) Jean-Pierre Raffarin, former Prime Minister of France (starting with shots 3-7):
"I spent more than 50 years to learn about China and I paid more than 100 visits to the country and have maintained continuous relations with China. I cannot pretend to fully understand China, as I do not know its language. I know only a bit of its civilization. But I have come to know the Chinese people quite deeply, and I believe that we Europeans must have great admiration for the Chinese people, who are extraordinarily hardworking, full of wisdom, and very committed to the country's development."

FILE: Tianjin Municipality, north China - Date Unknown (CCTV - No access Chinese mainland)
9. Aerial shots of cityscape

FILE: Chongqing Municipality, southwest China - Date Unknown (CCTV - No access Chinese mainland)
10. Aerial shots of cityscape

Paris, France - Recent (CGTN - No access Chinese mainland)
11. SOUNDBITE (French) Jean-Pierre Raffarin, former Prime Minister of France:
"This lack of understanding is naturally due to the distance that separates us, but the complexity of languages and differences in our civilizations also make it tough, which sometimes leads to misunderstandings. Many caricatures can exist, and ultimately, there are not enough cultural exchanges. Of course, the China-France relationship is first and foremost a cultural relationship, but we still need to advance further to better understand our differences."

FILE: Beijing, China - Feb 23, 2024 (CCTV - No access Chinese mainland)
12. Various of French students singing on stage
13. Various of French students visiting stadium
14. Various of French students making glutinous rice balls

FILE: Paris, France - June 2023 (CCTV - No access Chinese mainland)
15. Various of people at riverbank

Paris, France - Recent (CGTN - No access Chinese mainland)
16. SOUNDBITE (French) Jean-Pierre Raffarin, former Prime Minister of France (starting with shots 12-15):
"Whatever our political systems, whatever our economic rivalries, whatever our cultural divergences, we fundamentally share a message for the planet. This message is to protect the planet for the peace of humanity. And peace for humanity is a common goal that France and China share."

FILE: Beijing, China - Date Unknown (CCTV - No access Chinese mainland)
17. Various of Tian'anmen Rostrum, Chinese national flag

China-France relationship is first and foremost a cultural relationship, said former French Prime Minister Jean-Pierre Raffarin in an interview with China Global Television Network (CGTN) in Paris ahead of President Xi Jinping's scheduled state visit to France.

Raffarin, who served as Prime Minister of France from 2002 to 2005, has been a steadfast friend of China, bearing witness to its rise and development over the past decades.

His extensive engagement with China, spanning more than half a century and marked by over a hundred visits, has deepened his admiration for the diligence and intelligence of the Chinese people.

"I spent more than 50 years to learn about China and I paid more than 100 visits to the country and have maintained continuous relations with China. I cannot pretend to fully understand China, as I do not know its language. I know only a bit of its civilization. But I have come to know the Chinese people quite deeply, and I believe that we Europeans must have great admiration for the Chinese people, who are extraordinarily hardworking, full of wisdom, and very committed to the country's development," Raffarin said.

While acknowledging the strength of the cultural bond between China and France, Raffarin highlighted the need for deeper understanding to overcome inherent differences.

"This lack of understanding is naturally due to the distance that separates us, but the complexity of languages and differences in our civilizations also make it tough, which sometimes leads to misunderstandings. Many caricatures can exist, and ultimately, there are not enough cultural exchanges. Of course, the China-France relationship is first and foremost a cultural relationship, but we still need to advance further to better understand our differences," he said.

The year 2024 marks the 60th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relationship between China and France. The relationship has weathered numerous challenges and has benefited both nations and the world as a whole.

Despite disparities, both nations share a common vision centered on global peace and prosperity, said Raffarin.

"Whatever our political systems, whatever our economic rivalries, whatever our cultural divergences, we fundamentally share a message for the planet. This message is to protect the planet for the peace of humanity. And peace for humanity is a common goal that France and China share," he said.