French Prime Minister Edouard Philippe (2nd R) welcomes Chinese President Xi Jinping's special envoy Dai Bingguo (3rd L) at Saint-Sulpice church in Paris, France, Sept. 30, 2019. Chinese President Xi Jinping's special envoy Dai Bingguo attended here on Monday the memorial service for former French President Jacques Chirac who died at the age of 86 on Sept. 26. (Photo by Jiang Hua/Xinhua)
PARIS, Sept. 30 (Xinhua) -- Chinese President Xi Jinping's special envoy Dai Bingguo attended here on Monday the memorial service for former French President Jacques Chirac who died at the age of 86 on Sept. 26.
Dai, also a former Chinese State Councilor, brought a message of deep mourning and sincere condolences from President Xi in the name of the government and people of China to French President Emmanuel Macron, the French people and Chirac's family.
Chirac was a statesman and strategist enjoying high esteem. He had made an immortal contribution to promoting the all-round friendly cooperation between China and France and between China and Europe, as well as the exchanges and mutual learning between western and eastern civilizations, according to the special envoy.
Dai said China will not forget this old and good friend. We are willing to work together with France to promote the further development of the two countries' comprehensive strategic partnership.
Meanwhile, Macron asked Dai to extend his cordial greetings and sincere thanks to his Chinese counterpart, saying the participation of Xi's special envoy in the memorial service of Chirac illustrates the friendship between the Chinese and French peoples.
He said that France is ready to continue to reinforce its strategic communication and cooperation in various domains with China.
