French PM visits Shanghai to discuss co-op opportunities

French Prime Minister Edouard Philippe visited Shanghai on June 23, as part of an official state visit.

Philippe met Li Qiang, Party secretary of Shanghai, to discuss business cooperation opportunities between France and the city.

Li extended a warm welcome to Philippe and his delegation and said that France is the first western country that built diplomatic relations with China, and added that Sino-French relations have maintained a healthy and steady development in recent years.

Shanghai, China's largest economic center, is already in cooperation with other French cities such as Marseille, according to Li.

He expected strengthened cooperation between France and Shanghai in the fields of technology, education, culture, tourism, port construction, and the fashion industry, and invited French companies to attend the China International Import Expo to be held in Shanghai in November.

Philippe said he was impressed by Shanghai's rising status as an international metropolitan business hub and looked forward to further exchanges and cooperation in culture, education, the economy and trade in the future.  

Li Qiang (R), Party secretary of Shanghai, meets Edouard Philippe (L), Prime Minister of France, in Shanghai on June 23. [Photo/chinanews.com]