Ex-ambassador: Sino-French ties solid and dynamic

France's relationship with China cannot be "business as usual" and a solid, dynamic Sino-French partnership can contribute substantially to a more cohesive multipolar world, said former French ambassador to China Pierre Morel.

Morel made the comments ahead of the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the two countries on Jan 27.

Half a century ago, Charles de Gaulle, then French president, announced the country's recognition of the People's Republic of China.

"It's in our mutual interest to continue to expand," Morel said, noting that stronger strategic partnership between China and France still has an important impact on international affairs.

Former French ambassador to China Pierre Morel

"Today, we have a multipolar world, but we still face the serious challenge of disorder. So we have to mobilize better thinking and action to improve the international system. A solid and dynamic Sino-French relationship can contribute a lot to that," he said.

Morel served as the French ambassador to China from 1996 to 2002, an important period during which the two countries experienced one of the warmest moments in their relations.

Morel helped prepare for former French president Jacques Chirac's visit to China in 1997, the first state visit by a French president in 14 years. The visit eventually led to the joint declaration of a comprehensive partnership between the two nations, a milestone in their bilateral relations.

"There was the sense that it was a turning point, and a new phase would start," Morel said.

"For me, it was wonderful as it indicated our relationship entered a key dimension, and it helped me sort out the main lines of our political, economic and cultural relations," he said.

As an ambassador, Morel also witnessed key moments in China's history including the death of Chinese leader Deng Xiaoping, the mastermind behind China's adoption of a market economy and Hong Kong's return to the motherland.

Morel noted that both China and France are undertaking critical reforms, which could open new opportunities for cooperation in sectors such as urban planning, healthcare, education and environmental protection.

Morel said despite "ups and downs" in Sino-French relations, France remains committed to pursuing strong relations with China.

Relations between the countries hit a rough patch in 2008 after former French president Nicolas Sarkozy met the Dalai Lama and the torch relay for the Beijing Olympics was disrupted in Paris.

"When I was working for president (Francois) Mitterrand, I could sense the precise and careful attention France had on China," he said. "Today, every French leader is conscious of the importance of France's relations with China."

The former ambassador noted that France and China should develop a creative vision for international order and explore new opportunities to achieve it.

"We cannot do it alone or isolate one another. Nor can we regress in the nice dream of the past," he said, adding that it is necessary for the two countries to combine their forces against the backdrop of a much more complicated world.

Meanwhile, Morel said that both countries should continue to encourage direct people-to-people exchanges to improve mutual understanding.

"For example, the number of people learning Chinese has expanded dramatically in France, and almost all the top French schools and universities have introduced programs related to China," he said.

"We can bet on the next generation to take over and push forward our relations in the future," he said.