CCTV9英语新闻：中国法国外交关系（在线收听）

It was on January 27, 1964 that France recognized the People’s Republic of China. China and France issued a joint communique which read: “the French government and the government of the People’s Republic of China decided to establish diplomatic relations between the two countries and have agreed to appoint ambassadors within three months.”

Other Western countries soon followed France’s lead and began establishing diplomatic ties that eventually ended China isolation. In 1973, French President Georges Pompidou became the first French president and the first Western head of state to visit China. Vice Premier Deng Xiaoping visited France three years later becoming the first Chinese leader to make an official visit to a Western country.

During that visit the two countries decided to set up an economic and trade committee. In 2003, Franch Prime Minister Jean - Pierre Raffarin visited China even though China was in the midst of the “SARS” epidemic. Despite the health risks, Raffarin refused to cancel the trip and expressed sincere support to China during its fight against the disease.