A visitor views exhibits at a photo exhibition on the 55th anniversary of the establishment of Sino-French diplomatic relations in Strasbourg, France, Sept. 10, 2019. The exhibition, inaugurated Tuesday evening, displays some 60 large-format photographs recording the key moments in the diplomatic relations between China and France, including the people-to-people exchanges in 1960s and 1970s, as well as the economic and trade activities in the 21st century. (Xinhua/Li Genxing)

STRASBOURG, France, Sept. 11 (Xinhua) -- A photo exhibition on the 55th anniversary of the establishment of Sino-French diplomatic relations was inaugurated Tuesday evening by Consul General of China in Strasbourg Ling Jun alongside enthusiastic guests.

Some 60 large-format photographs recording the key moments in the diplomatic relations between China and France were on display, including the people-to-people exchanges in 1960s and 1970s, as well as the economic and trade activities in the 21st century.

Sino-French friendship in cultural and artistic domains are also shown in the photographs, with some featuring the China visits paid by French writers Jean-Paul Sartre, Simone de Beauvoir, Andre Malraux, Jean Le Clezio, and French actor Alain Delon as well as fashion designer Yves Saint-Laurent.

Also showcased is the photograph capturing the signing of partnership protocol in Chengdu in May 2018 between the Grand-Est Region (Eastern France) and Sichuan Province.

President of the Commission on International and Crossborder Relations for the Grand-Est Region Claudine Ganter hailed the "close and privileged ties the Grand-Est Region holds with China". The Region will be present at a forum organized by Sichuan Province on the Silk Roads in mid-October, she added.

Consul General Ling Jun recalled that Sino-French relations have always been at the front of China's relations with Western countries.

In 1964, France was the first major Western country to establish diplomatic relations with the People's Republic of China.

"China and France have a mission and a responsibility that are historical and particular and play an important role in maintaining multilateral international order founded on rules and mutual respect," he said.

China defends the international order that is "open, inclusive, balanced and beneficial to all", he stressed.