Sino-French relations are at a "new starting point" as new leaders of both countries attached great importance to the bilateral relations and are actively exploring new areas of co-operation, Kong Quan, the Chinese ambassador to France, said on Monday at a Chinese New Year Reception in Paris.

"China will continue to push forward the reform and the opening up, to raise people's living standards and enhance national strength in the year 2013, which will be a historic starting point of closer and deeper ties between China and France," Kong said.

Kong said French President Francois Hollande will soon visit China and the two sides are preparing a series of activities to commemorate the 50th anniversary of Sino-French diplomatic relations

"We hope to take advantage of this opportunity to promote further development of bilateral relations," he said.

On Sunday, Kong visited the Memorial of Charles de Gaulle in Haute-Marne in North-East France to commemorate the 49th anniversary of Sino-French relations.