Chinese State Councillor Chen Zhili urged on Friday Chinese ministries and local governments to prepare well for the upcoming French culture year in China.

Chen told an enlarged meeting of the Chinese organizing committee for the cultural program that the "China-France Culture Year" is a huge cultural exchange. The Chinese culture year in France held from last October to last July was a great success.

The Chinese culture year in France exhibited extensive Chinese culture and a vigorous modern China, Chen said.

The French culture year in China, which will begin this October, and will help Chinese people learn more about the French culture, she said.

The program is significant for enhancing friendship between the two peoples, promoting mutual understanding and exchanges and deepening relations between China, France and Europe as a whole, she noted.

The senior official asked all departments and local governments to assist their French counterparts in preparation, cultivate a good atmosphere in Chinese society for the culture year and promote Sino-French cooperation in science and technology, education and trade.