The three day visit of Chinese President Xi Jinping to France yielded business deals amounting to US$ 25 Billion (155.5 Billion yuan), primarily in the aviation and automotive industries.

French President Francois Hollande made the announcement during a joint press conference with President Xi .

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"The 50 agreements that were signed today represent a value of Eighteen billion euros (US$25 Billion). Eighteen billion euros of contracts means jobs, growth and, most of all, significant prospects for the coming years," Hollande said.

Broken down into contracts and projects, a total of fifty deals were closed on Wednesday with two landmark agreements that are expected to bring dynamism to the two countries' bilateral relations.

One deal enables the French-based Airbus SAS Ltd. --the world's fastest growing avionics company-- to further consolidate industrial partnerships with China and cooperate with Chinese aviation authorities in developing air traffic management systems.

Airbus was also given by China a longer lease on the operations of its assembly plant in Tianjin until 2025, which includes the purchase of at least 150 units of planes and civilian helicopters amounting to US$ 20 Billion (124.2 Billion yuan). Airbus SAS will finally have a security in completing its end-of-the-line  assembly of planes in China.

China's state-owned Dongfeng Motor Group, based in Wuhan, is set to infuse additional capital into PSA Peugeot Citroen, Europe's second largest automotive and motorcycle manufacturer. A capital increase of US$ 4.1 Billion (25.5 Billion yuan) into PSA Peugeot Citroen will result in 14 percent share for Dongfeng Motor Group.

FORGING STRONGER TIES

Other areas of investment entered into by the two countries cover industries such as finance, nuclear energy and quality control.

Fifty years ago, Chairman Mao Zedong and President Charles De Gaulle opened diplomatic relations and since then, Sino-French cooperation has expanded through the years, building a dynamic bilateral relationship.

China is currently the world's second largest economy after the United States, and France is in fifth place.

Other areas discussed during President Xi's visit include exploratory talks on the establishment of a joint mechanism on issues affecting maritime affairs, sub-national exchanges, and tourism cooperation.

Xi raised Beijing's expectation of a favorable investment environment for Chinese investors in France, and likewise offered a profitable condition for French financial groups investing on the RMB, China's currency.

The Chinese president also proposed to jointly explore possibilities for the two countries to enter into tripartite cooperation with third party countries.

French Premier Jean-Marc Ayrault sees the partnership with China on a long-term perspective and pledged to work closely with Beijing in maintaining political dialogue, better coordination on key world and regional issues, and an increase in people-to-people exchanges.

Ayrault expressed optimism that both Paris and Beijing will continue to consolidate their partnership and cooperation in traditional areas as well as explore other avenues in bilateral relations.

VISIT HIGHLIGHTS

Both President Xi and Hollande attended activities marking the 50th anniversary of French-Sino relations. Xi was also welcomed by the French Senate and proposed more exchanges between the two countries' legislatures.

From Paris, President Xi and the First Lady Peng Liyuan conducted a tour of the former location of the Lyon Sino-French Institute, established in July 1921. The institute was the only "Chinese university" outside of China that helped train some of the leaders of what was to become the People's Republic of China, among them Zhou Enlai, Deng Xiaoping and Chen Yi.

Xi went through the main campus to lay the groundwork for a new center that aims to promote China-Lyon relations and build a museum for the Lyon Sino-French Institute.

Also in Lyon, President Xi extended his appreciation to the Institut Merieux for promoting health cooperation between France and China.

The Biomerieux research center of Institut Merieux has been closely working with Chinese health agencies in finding medical solutions to "infection control and emerging infectious diseases control, tuberculosis prevention and treatment."

In the last ten years, French medical researchers have been working hand-in-hand with their Chinese counterparts at the production and research center in Shanghai and bio-safety laboratory in Wuhan.

The President and his party returned to Paris to deliver a speech before delegates of the United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).

The director-general of the UNESCO, Irina Bokova, praised China for its "huge success" in promoting education across the country and noted the progress on rural education and the shift toward vocational education, giving adequate and appropriate skills training to Chinese youth.

"I'm sure if the right targets are there, it will be successful. It's a huge challenge, in terms of training teachers, devising curriculum and giving access," Bokova said.

The UNESCO also bestowed upon First Lady Peng Liyuan the title and duties of UNESCO envoy for women and girl's education. The title is the first for any Chinese figure, particularly for a Chinese first lady.

THE NEXT FIFTY YEARS

President Xi laid out his aspirations that the two countries will continue with the development of bilateral relations.

"Mutual benefit, win-win and inclusiveness are the basic point of departure to ensure that the relationship can deliver long-term gains to the two peoples. Acting independently but ready to seek common ground while shelving differences is the philosophical foundation for the two countries to coordinate and cooperate in international affairs," Xi said.