Senior Chinese official Li Changchun and French Senate Christian Poncelet attended an evening gala party in magnificent and gorgeous Summer Palace in Beijing's western suburbs late Saturday to conclude the The Year of France in China.

The Year of France in China, which commenced in October 2004, has promoted the growth of Sino-French friendly relations and increased the understanding and friendship between the people of the Orient and the Western world, said Li Changchun, a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee.

"The Year makes Sino-French relations the best ever in history," he acknowledged.

Poncelet considered the evening gala party in the once imperial garden as a generous gifts to France, which will keep recorded forever in the history of the friendly exchanges between the people of the two countries.

The Year of France in China is in response to the Year of China in France, which was held from October 2003 to July 2004.

In the gala party permeated with festivity, Chinese and foreign visitors went boating in elegant, scenic Kunming Lake in the moonlight to appreciate and, enjoy the water-curtain fountains, the lovely performance of traditional Kunqu Opera and vivid handicraft making.
 
(Xinhua News Agency September 19, 2005)