In commemoration of the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and France, Chinese President Xi Jinping arrives in Lyon, France this Tuesday to begin his state visit.

Xi will meet with his French counterpart, French President Francois Hollande to celebrate the golden jubilee of relations and sign several bilateral agreements of cooperation in areas like urbanization, finance, agriculture, aviation and nuclear energy.

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Mr. Xi said upon arrival, "I am looking forward to exchanging views with President Hollande and other French leaders on bilateral relations and issues of common concern."

The Chinese leader will also hold discussions with members of the French legislature, and with French Prime Minister Jean-Marc Ayrault.

France holds a unique place in China's diplomatic history as the first major Western power to establish official diplomatic relations with the People's Republic of China after it was founded in 1949. Then, French President, Charles de Gaulle and Chinese leader and Chairman, Mao Zedong, agreed to open ambassador-level diplomatic relations in 1964.

Xi will also meet with Director-General Irina Bokova of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) headquartered in Paris and deliver a speech before its members.

The Chinese president noted that his visit will be highlighted by extensive direct contact with the people of France from all levels of society, to sum up successes in the past and future plans for French-Chinese relations.

The development of relations with France has proven to be mutually beneficial for both Paris and Beijing with annual bilateral trade increasing from US $13.4 billion in 2003 to US $49.8 billion in 2013.

French direct investment in China totaled to 4,630 projects in 2013 alone, amounting to US$ 12.9 billion, according to China's Ministry of Commerce. French businesses opened 163 enterprises across China in 2013 with an estimated value of US$ 750 million, up by 15.3 percent from 2012.

At present, an average of 5,000 residents travel to and from Paris and Beijing everyday, compared to 3,000 people per year fifty years ago. To date, some 38,000 Chinese students are studying in France and 7,000 French students are pursuing academic degrees in China.

President Xi will proceed to Germany and Belgium after his visit to France as part of his European tour, Xi's first since assuming the presidency.