'A mind broader than the sky': Xi and French culture

TWO INDEPENDENTS

"There is a prospect greater than the sea, and it is the sky; there is a prospect greater than the sky, and it is the human soul," Xi quoted Hugo in his landmark UNESCO speech in Paris in 2014.

"Indeed, we need a mind broader than the sky as we approach different civilizations," added the Chinese president, a steadfast advocate for the harmonious coexistence of civilizations in an era of profound changes in the international landscape.

Given that Paris is the host city of UNESCO and that Xi views France as a major representative of Western civilization, it is not surprising that the Chinese leader has chosen the French capital as the venue to expound for the first time his vision of civilization on the world stage.

"I vividly remember his words when he said that today (where) we live, we are representing different cultures, religions, ethnic groups, but we are part of a community of shared destiny," said then UNESCO Director-General Irina Bokova. "Ten years later, none of the words President Xi pronounced has aged today. It is more relevant because of the problems we confront nowadays."

Turn the clock back 60 years to 1964. On Jan 27, China and France made history by formally establishing diplomatic relations, which shattered the icy grip of Cold War isolation and catalyzed the transformation of the global situation towards a multipolar world order. In an editorial published the next day, French daily Le Monde called this historic moment "the encounter of two independents."

In Xi's words, Chairman Mao Zedong and General Charles de Gaulle, with extraordinary wisdom and courage, opened the door for exchanges and cooperation between China and the West, "bringing hope to the world amid the Cold War."

"Both China and France are independent civilizations but like-minded," said Cui Hongjian, director of Center for the European Union and Regional Development Studies at Beijing Foreign Studies University.

"Drawing from their rich cultures and histories, the two countries share profound insights on world trends," said Cui. "They don't want to dominate others, and in turn, they don't want to be dominated."

Laurent Fabius, president of the Constitutional Council and former French prime minister, said both France and China are committed to multilateralism and peace.

"In this dangerous world of ours, there must be powers of peace and sustainable development," Fabius said, "and this must obviously be, beyond our differences, a major mission of China and France."