Former French president Jacques Chirac died on Sep 26, aged 86. Chirac served as the French president from 1995 to 2007, over which period he visited China four times.

Chirac was passionate about Chinese history and culture and received as an 'old friend of the Chinese people'

During his presidency, Chirac improved bilateral ties between China and France.

"To develop those special relations (between China and France), you must develop a thorough knowledge, or at least a great interest in, the culture of the other country," he once said.