Former French prime minister Jean-Pierre Raffarin [Photo provided to China Daily]

Former French prime minister Jean-Pierre Raffarin opened his speech with "xiexie", the Chinese term for "thank you". He stressed that culture lies at the core of the Sino-French relationship, as it is an indispensible part in both countries for mutual understanding and respect to deepen communications and exchange at an emotional level.

"We all know that this global challenge can only be conquered through cooperation. Culture plays a vital role in the promotion of the cooperative spirit in global development. Music is a celebration, and culture is friendship," he added.

During the hour-long concert, many revered folk songs of China were performed, including some that was listed as a masterpiece of the oral and intangible cultural heritage of humanity, as well as a folk rendition of classic French songs La Vie en Rose and Les Champs-Elysees.

She Mingyuan, director of China Cultural Center in Paris, expressed his respect for the long history of great civilizations of China and France. Though the two may differ in culture, the two have always sought similarities among differences and carried through mutual understanding and respect.

"Culture is borderless. The center will continue to play its unique role in stabilizing the Sino-French relationship through cultural exchange and gathering concensus in an effort to established a shared future of humankind," She added.