France and China are two important keepers and promoters of world cultural diversity, said French Minister of Culture and Communication Jean-Jacques Aillagon in Beijing Wednesday.

Aillagon told Xinhua at the Conference on Cultures and Civilizations of the Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM) that France and China reached much consensus in safeguarding cultural diversity and had a bright future in cultural cooperation.

France and China, as two big nations representing Western and Oriental cultures, shared many similarities in the cultural field, he said. They have a common purpose to maintain cultural diversity and to strengthen global exchanges and cooperation in culture.

The two sides also made great efforts to protect and develop their own ethical culture and called for an international pact to protect the cultural diversity, he said, adding that the French government supported a more open international cultural market.

This conference will help all the participants recognize the vital importance of protecting and promoting cultural diversity, he acknowledged.

He reviewed briefly the success of the "Chinese cultural year" event held in France since last October, noting that this cultural activity attracted great enthusiasm from the French people.

The "French cultural year" will open in China next autumn, he said, and he hoped the Chinese people can learn more about the French culture.
 
(Xinhua News Agency December 4, 2003)