Former French PM endorses Guangdong's achievement

Jean-Pierre Raffarin, former Prime Minister of France and current special representative for the French President on Chinese affairs, said that Guangdong province serves as a window for China to present its achievement in reform and opening-up. He described himself as the best witness of Guangdong's development in the past 40 years.

He made the remarks at the opening ceremony held April 7 for a documentary themed on international politicians' witnessing of Guangdong's reform and opening-up over the past 40 years.

The documentary was initiated by the Information Office and the Foreign Affairs Office of the Guangdong provincial government. Adopting the most advanced 4K super hi-vision technology, it will interview numerous French expats living in Guangdong province and present Guangdong to the world through their perspectives.

On April 7, Jean-Pierre Raffarin, former Prime Minister of France and current special representative for the French President on Chinese affairs, draws lion eyes for a lion dance show at the opening ceremony of a documentary themed on international politicians' witnessing of Guangdong's 40-year reform and opening-up history. [Photo/Southern Metropolis Daily]

In particular, the documentary will feature Raffarin's experience and views of Guangdong as a senior Western politician who travelled to Guangdong more than 20 times over the past 40 years.

Raffarin said at the ceremony that Guangdong is a demonstration zone of China's international cooperation; the well-known Canton Fair has decades of history and serves as an important platform to showcase China's development. Guangdong is not strange to French people in terms of its politics, economy, and culture. More than 300 French enterprises are doing business in the province.

Raffarin said that reform and opening-up has always been a top priority for Guangdong, and in his view innovation is its driving force.

Jean-Pierre Raffarin speaks at the documentary opening ceremony in Guangzhou Library on April 7. [Photo/Southern Metropolis Daily]

He stressed the importance of the Chinese and French people promoting mutual cooperation. He believes that China and France are very emotional countries that love science and technology, as well as the pursuit of wealth and development. A deeper friendship between two such peoples will be mutually beneficial.

When interviewed after the ceremony, Raffarin said that it is very important to present China's progress over the past 40 years and he personally places high expectations on the documentary. He also spoke highly of Chinese young people, who are incredibly smart and hardworking and have built a large number of fast-growing startups.

The documentary will be shot in Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Zhuhai, Foshan, and other cities in Guangdong province. It will be premiered at this year's 21st Century Maritime Silk Road Forum and be broadcast by the French-speaking TV5 Monde, one of the top three global television networks.

After his speech at the documentary opening ceremony, Jean-Pierre Raffarin plays table tennis with primary school students in Guangzhou. [Photo/gzdaily.dayoo.com]