French foreign minister to visit China

French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian will pay an official visit to China from Nov 24 to 27, his first since taking the post, Foreign Ministry spokesman Geng Shuang announced Friday.

According to Geng, during the visit "which bears great significance for both China's ties with France and Europe", Le Drian and Vice-Premier Liu Yandong will co-chair the fourth meeting of the high-level cultural exchange mechanism between China and France.

While State Councilor Yang Jiechi will meet with him, the French foreign minister will also hold talks with his Chinese counterpart Wang Yi, and the two will jointly meet with the press, Geng said.

"We believe the visit will further enhance political mutual trust and strategic communication between China and France, implement the consensus reached by heads of state, coordinate high-level exchanges as well as practical cooperation and play an active role in promoting the China-Europe relationship," Geng said at a press conference in Beijing.

France was the first Western power to establish diplomatic ties with China, doing so in 1964.