The two strong spotlights in the center of the small pressroom in the French prime minister's office building made the place even more crowded. Dozens of reporters, diplomats and government officials were waiting for Premier Li Keqiang and his French counterpart, Manuel Valls, to give a briefing on the result of their meeting.
The heat in the room was evident. Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi had taken off his jacket, while Xu Shaoshi, minister of China's National Development and Reform Commission, sitting next to Wang, was fanning himself with a wad of documents.
France issued a heat warning on Tuesday as temperatures soared to 40 C.With no air conditioning, the temperature inside the room was higher.
Li gulped a mouthful of water right after he walked in and stood in front of the microphone. French Prime Minister Valls, noticing Li's move, started the news conference with an apology for the heat.
Li and the audience laughed. "I think everyone at today's event has felt the warmth, which is a true reflection of China-France relations," he said.
And Li has good reason to say that. He had settled multibillion-euro deals with Valls. The meeting was held only six months after Valls' visit to Beijing, unusually soon in diplomatic terms.
In addition to deepening cooperation on nuclear power, China also committed to buy 75 long-haul A330s from Airbus-45 confirmed and 30 under option-in an accord valued at $18 billion.
Another deal was the joint pledge to combine respective advantages in manufacturing to explore a third market, which Li believes will benefit both, as well as helping the third country to upgrade its own industries.
As Li left, Valls stood at the stairs of the front door and waved his guest off until the car vanished out of view at the main gate.
It was hard to imagine that the two countries experienced a "shock" in diplomatic ties several years ago.
The countries are getting increasingly interrelated, both in the economic terms and links between their people. Chinese citizens will soon be able to apply for five-year visa to France with multiple entries.
The warmth between Paris and Beijing is due to continue.
Contact the writer at zhaoyinan@chinadaily.com.cn
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