At the invitation of Monnaie de Paris (Institution of State Production of Official French Currency), on March 27th, a 8-person delegation headed by CPAFFC Secretary-General Li Xikui visited France to attend the Issuing Ceremony of Commemorating Coins Marking 50th Anniversary of Establishment of China-France Diplomatic Ties. Mr. Song Jingwu, Director-General of Department of European and Asian Affairs of CPAFFC, Mr. Zhou Ruiming, Secretary-General of Commission for Economic Cooperation of CPAFFC were included in the delegation.

Mr. Christophe Beaux, CEO of Monnaie de Paris extended his welcome to the delegation. He said, this year was the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and France. Monnaie de Paris and China Gold Coin Incorporation subordinated to The People’s Bank of China jointly issued a set of commemorating coins to celebrate this great event. This set of commemorating coins was a symbol of people-to-people cultural exchanges between China and France. CPAFFC had made great contribution to promoting the nongovernmental exchanges and cooperation between China and France. He hoped that CPAFFC could publicize the significance of this set of commemorating coins and make more Chinese friends understand and collect.

Secretary-General Li Xikui expressed that the promotion of the cultural exchanges and nongovernmental cooperation was one of the aims of CPAFFC. The issue of the commemorating coins was a significant event of people-to-people exchanges between the two countries. The Chinese and French people could learn more about each other’s art, craft and history through collecting the commemorating coins. The CPAFFC would introduce the background history and culture of the coins to as many friends as possible through her resources, to further strengthen the two people’s understand and friendship.