3月23日，在對法蘭西共和國進行國事訪問前夕，國家主席習近平在法國《費加羅報》發表題為《在共同發展的道路上繼續并肩前行》的署名文章。文章中英翻譯版本如下：

在共同發展的道路上繼續并肩前行
Move Together Toward Common Development

中華人民共和國主席　習近平
Xi Jinping
President of the People's Republic of China

應馬克龍總統邀請，我即將對法國進行第二次國事訪問。
Invited by President Emmanuel Macron, I will soon pay my second state visit to France.

5年前，沐浴著和煦的春風，我對法國進行了首次國事訪問，同法方一道慶祝中法建交50周年，總結歷史，展望未來，共同開創了緊密持久的中法全面戰略伙伴關系新時代。5年后，我再次訪問法國，又逢一個春風送暖、萬物復蘇的春天。我欣喜地看到，中法關系正如春天般欣欣向榮，迸發出蓬勃生機。
Five years ago, in a balmy spring, I paid my first state visit to France as the two countries celebrated the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations. It gave us an opportunity to review the past, plan for the future and open up a new era of close and enduring comprehensive strategic partnership between the two countries. Five years later, again in a blossoming spring season, I am to make another visit to France. I take great delight to see that the China-France relationship is beaming with vigor and spring.

我帶著對法國的美好情感而來。這份情感來自中國人民以及我個人對法國璀璨歷史文化和獨特魅力的欣賞，更來自中法兩大文明的相互吸引和交相輝映。我帶著對法國人民的特殊情誼而來。這份情誼來自中法兩國源遠流長的友誼，更來自雙方在相互尊重和信任基礎上的民心相通。我帶著對中法關系的殷切期望而來。這份期望來自中法建交55年來的同舟共濟、合作共贏，更來自兩國關系所蘊含的深厚潛力和美好前景。
On this visit, I will bring with me goodwill toward France. Such goodwill is based on the admiration both from the Chinese people and from myself for the splendid history and culture and the unique charm that France has to offer. It is also inspired by how our two great cultures have engaged and illuminated each other. I will bring with me special friendship toward the French people. Such friendship is rooted in the long-standing friendly ties between our two countries, and reinforced by the closeness between our peoples with mutual respect and mutual trust. I will bring with me great expectations for further growth of our bilateral relationship. I find reasons for such expectations from our past 55 years of mutual support and win-win cooperation, and more so from the great potential and future prospects that our bilateral relations hold.

——兩國關系前行的步履更加穩健。我同馬克龍總統多次會晤、通話、通信，建立了良好工作關系。雙方政治互信更加深入，高層往來更加頻繁，通過戰略、經濟財金、人文等30多個對話磋商機制開展了高質量的溝通和協調。我們對重大國際問題的共識進一步增多，在聯合國、二十國集團等框架內開展良好合作，共同推動和平解決地區熱點問題，為維護世界和平、穩定、發展發揮著重要作用。雙方攜手推動達成和落實歷史性的氣候變化《巴黎協定》，在全球應對氣候變化合作方面發揮了引領作用。
-- We are making steadier progress in pushing our relations forward. I have built a good working relationship with President Macron through the exchange of meetings, phone calls and correspondence. The two sides have deepened political mutual trust, intensified high-level exchanges and maintained high-quality communication and coordination through the 30-plus dialogue and consultation mechanisms in the strategic, economic, financial, cultural and other fields. We have developed more common views on major international issues, carried out sound cooperation under the United Nations, the G20 and other frameworks, and jointly worked for peaceful settlement of regional hotspots, playing our important roles in upholding global peace, stability and development. By working together for the conclusion and implementation of the historic Paris Agreement, our two countries have led the way in the global response to climate change.

——兩國共同利益的蛋糕越做越大。在短短5年時間里，雙邊貿易額增長130多億美元，雙向投資總額超過200億美元。法國牛肉等優質農產品受到越來越多中國消費者的喜愛。兩國合作建設的臺山核電站1號機組已成為全球首臺商業運營的EPR機組。中法英三方合作旗艦項目——欣克利角核電站項目順利起步。中法海洋衛星成功發射。在可持續發展、金融、醫療衛生等領域，雙方合作潛力不斷釋放，第三方市場合作方興未艾，意味著共建“一帶一路”合作正在順利推進。
-- We are making the pie of our converging interests bigger. In a short span of five years, our bilateral trade has expanded by more than 13 billion U.S. dollars, and mutual investment increased by over 20 billion dollars. French beef and other quality agricultural produce are becoming increasingly popular among Chinese consumers. The Taishan 1 nuclear reactor built under China-France collaboration has become the world's first EPR (European Pressurized Reactor) unit connected to grid. The Hinkley Point nuclear power plant, an iconic trilateral project between China, France and Britain, has got off to a good start. The China-France Oceanography Satellite (CFOSat) has entered into orbit. We are tapping our cooperation potential in sustainable development, finance, medicine and health, and other fields. As our cooperation in third markets grows, we are making good progress in jointly undertaking the Belt and Road Initiative.

——兩國友好的根基不斷加深。中法已結成102對友好省區和城市，形成豐富的地方交流合作網絡。2018年，中國留法學生數量接近4萬，10萬多法國學生學習中文，中國赴法游客人數創下歷史新高。巴黎成為直飛中國航線最多的歐洲城市之一。密切的人員往來和豐富多彩的人文交流恰似一股股涓涓細流，匯聚成中法友誼的江河。
-- We are cementing the foundation of our friendship. With 102 pairs of sister provinces and cities, the two countries have developed a thick network of subnational exchanges and cooperation. In 2018, nearly 40,000 Chinese students were studying in France, more than 100,000 French students were studying Chinese, and a record number of Chinese tourists visited France. Paris has more direct flights to China than most other European cities. Like a myriad of small streams converging into a mighty river, the various close personnel and cultural exchanges have enriched our friendship.

春天是播種的季節。我這次來訪，既收獲5年來中法關系發展的累累碩果，更要同法方一道播種中法合作的新希望。
Spring is the sowing season. During my visit, in addition to reaping the fruits of our growing relationship over the past five years, I also look forward to the two sides working together to sow the seed of hope for future cooperation.

我說過，中法是特殊的朋友，共贏的伙伴。在當今世界百年未有之大變局中，在人類社會發展的關鍵階段，我們面臨的挑戰和風險更趨復雜，也面臨前所未有的機遇。作為法國的全面戰略伙伴，中方愿同法方繼續并肩前行，把握歷史機遇，合作應對挑戰，增進戰略互信，把共同發展、共同繁榮的道路越走越寬。
As I said, China and France are special friends and win-win partners. The world is undergoing major changes rarely seen in a century and humanity stands at a critical stage of development. The challenges and risks we confront are ever more complex, and the opportunities we could grasp are just as unprecedented. As France's comprehensive strategic partner, China will continue to forge ahead with France shoulder to shoulder. I hope the two sides will seize the historic opportunity, meet challenges with joint efforts, and deepen strategic mutual trust in order to broaden the horizon for our common development and shared prosperity.

為此，我認為最重要的是把握好4個關鍵。
To succeed in this endeavor, it is most important that we act out four key principles:

獨立自主。在獨立自主精神引領下，55年前中法率先打破冷戰藩籬，實現歷史性握手。不忘初心，方得始終。當前，國際形勢風云變幻，保護主義、單邊主義甚囂塵上，我們應該保持定力，不隨波逐流，堅持獨立自主，堅持相互尊重，繼續做不同社會制度、不同文化背景、不同發展階段國家友好合作的引領者，為實現世界多極化和國際關系民主化貢獻力量。
Independence. Guided by a spirit of independence 55 years ago, China and France took the lead in breaking Cold War barriers and reached out to each other. We must stay true to this spirit as we face a fluid international situation and rising protectionism and unilateralism. We must stay the course instead of drifting with the tide. We must uphold our independence and show mutual respect, and continue to lead as an example for countries with different social systems, cultural backgrounds and stages of development to live side by side in friendship and cooperation. This way, we will contribute our share to multi-polarity and greater democracy in international relations.

開放共贏。中法都是富有開放傳統和合作精神的大國。中國改革開放已經走過40年歷程，未來開放的大門將越開越大。我們愿同法方繼續旗幟鮮明反對保護主義，支持建設開放型世界經濟，推動經濟全球化朝著更加開放、包容、普惠、平衡、共贏的方向發展。我們愿同法方深化核能、航空航天等傳統領域全方位合作，積極發展農業、科技創新等新興領域合作，推動共建“一帶一路”和第三方市場合作邁出更大步伐。我們歡迎法方參加中國國際進口博覽會，愿意進口更多高品質的法國產品和服務，滿足中國人民日益增長的美好生活需要。歡迎更多法國企業到中國投資興業、共享中國發展機遇。也希望中國企業在法國發展得更好，為法國經濟社會發展作出更多貢獻。
Openness and win-win. Both China and France are great nations that cherish the tradition of openness and the spirit of cooperation. China has carried out reform and opening-up for 40 years, and will only open wider in the future. I hope our two countries will continue to stand together to unequivocally reject protectionism, uphold an open world economy and make economic globalization more open, inclusive, balanced and beneficial for all. China hopes to work with France to deepen all-round cooperation in the traditional areas of nuclear energy, aviation and aerospace, develop new areas of cooperation such as agriculture and technological innovation, and make greater headway in our cooperation under the Belt and Road Initiative and in third markets. We welcome France to the China International Import Expo, and want to import more high-quality French products and services to meet the Chinese people's growing needs for a better life. We hope more French companies will choose to invest and do business in China to share in the country's development opportunities. We also hope to see Chinese businesses do better in France and contribute more to France's economic and social development.

包容互鑒。縱觀人類歷史，不同文明交流互鑒，讓世界更加豐富多彩，也為不同國家和民族加強合作提供了強大支撐。中法是東西方兩大文明的代表，都具有兼容并蓄的優秀品格。兩國文化、旅游、教育、體育、地方、青年等領域合作可以邁出更大步伐，在中西方人文交流中更好發揮表率和帶動作用。
Inclusiveness and mutual learning. The progress of human history shows that exchanges and mutual learning between civilizations have made our world a more colorful place and provided a powerful underpinning for cooperation among countries and nations. As representatives of Eastern and Western cultures, China and France both celebrate the fine tradition of being open and inclusive. I hope our two countries will take bigger strides in our cooperation in culture, tourism, education, sports and youth affairs, and at the subnational level, and hope to see our cooperation play an exemplary role in driving the cultural and people-to-people exchanges between China and the West.

責任擔當。中法攜手能夠改變世界，這一點在過去55年已經得到多次驗證。當前，人類社會發展正處在關鍵十字路口，需要大國擔當起應有的責任。中法都是聯合國安理會常任理事國。我們期待同法方加強協調，維護多邊主義，堅持以聯合國憲章宗旨和原則為基礎的國際關系基本準則，攜手應對挑戰，共促世界繁榮穩定，推動構建人類命運共同體。
A strong sense of responsibility. What has happened in the past 55 years shows that China and France, working together, could make a difference. At a time when humanity stands at a critical juncture of development, major countries must rise to the challenge. China and France are both permanent members of the UN Security Council. China hopes to strengthen coordination with France to safeguard multilateralism and uphold the basic norms governing international relations as underpinned by the purposes and principles of the UN Charter. We need to join hands to tackle challenges, promote global prosperity and stability and build a community with a shared future for mankind.

中國諺語說：“千里之行，始于足下。”法國大文豪雨果說：“改變一切不需要太多時間。”在新的歷史起點上，我們愿同法方攜手再出發，以腳踏實地的精神，推動中法合作不斷取得新的更大的成就。
The Chinese believe that "a one-thousand-mile journey starts with the very first step," while Victor Hugo said "that little time is enough to change all things." We now stand at a new starting point. Let China and France join hands and set off in solid steps on a common journey toward new and greater achievements in China-France cooperation.