French Air Force's famous aerobatics team, "Patrouille de
France" displayed its aerial charm in Beijing Monday amid French
President Jacques Chirac's state visit to China.
The PAF, with 10 high-performance Alpha jets, presented Chinese
viewers in the afternoon with the latest superb aerobatics
maneuvers and formations.
It is PAF's first road show in China. The troupe will also visit
Wuhan City, capital of Hubei Province, Zhuhai, a coastal city of
south China's Guangdong Province, and Hong Kong.
"This is a special gift brought by President Chirac to the
Chinese people," Thierry Mace, air attache of the French Embassy in
Beijing, told Xinhua.
The French president's state visit coincides with the Year
of France in China, which is scheduled to last from October 2004 to
July 2005. Chirac attended some activities of the event.
During the 10-month-long French Culture Year, more than 200
cultural activities are expected to come to China, unfolding unique
French culture.
The activities, including film festivals, photo shows and
concerts, would help the Chinese better acquaint themselves with
France and its culture and discover "a real France," said Chirac in
an interview with Xinhua prior to his China tour.
Chirac also hoped the French Culture Year will blossom in the
spirit of innovation, creation and festivity and present the
essence of French culture to the Chinese.
As a key program of the Year of France in China, the aerobatics
show is sure to bring unique French culture and spirit to China,
said Luo Yuan with the Military Academy of Sciences of the Chinese
People's Liberation Army (PLA).
"Military culture exchanges play an important role in
Sino-France cultural exchanges. That's why Chirac brought the PAF
to China and lists the show as a key event in the Year of France,"
Luo said.
The aerobatics show was actually "a symphony in the blue sky
played together by Chinese and French armies," he said. "It fully
epitomizes Sino-French military exchanges and cooperation, which
have attained a new high."
According to Fan Gaoyue, also with the Chinese PLA Military
Academy of Sciences, the aerobatics troupe is regarded as "honor
guard in the air" to a nation and is a vital platform to display
national and military power.
"Chirac's China tour in accompany of PAF indicates France's
readiness to develop an even deeper and more extensive relationship
with China," he acknowledged. "France expects to carry out better
cooperation with China in advancing the multi-polarization process
of the world and keeping international security and stability."
Fan also cited aerobatics show as a golden opportunity for
France to showcase its military power and sci-tech power. It may
help leading French products to enter China's market, he added.
The aerobatics show in Beijing, previously scheduled to be
staged on October 7, was postponed until Monday afternoon because
of low visibility and heavy fog in the past two days.
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(Xinhua News Agency October 12, 2004)
