France was the first major Western power to establish formal diplomatic relations with China. On January 27, 1964, China and France established ambassadorial-level diplomatic ties. Since then, the overall development of their relationship has proceeded smoothly, with productive exchanges and cooperation in various fields such as trade, science and technology, culture, education, and tourism. France is China's third-largest trading partner and the third-largest source of actual investment in the European Union, while China is France's top trading partner in Asia and the seventh largest globally. To date, there are 113 pairs of sister cities and provinces between the two countries.

The establishment of diplomatic relations between China and France was described by Western media at the time as a “diplomatic nuclear explosion,” making a tremendous impact on the international community. However, what is less known is that it was a book that influenced then-President Charles de Gaulle's decision to establish diplomatic ties with China. The book, titled Le Serpent et la Tortue, was written by former French Prime Minister Edgar Faure. The title of the book was inspired by Snake Hill and Tortoise Hill in Wuhan. The book was published in French in 1957, but the cover bore the Chinese characters “蛇龟” (Snake and Tortoise). With the establishment of ambassadorial-level diplomatic relations, Wuhan's bond with France has only deepened over time.

The exchanges and cooperation between Wuhan and France have received high attention and recognition from both the central and local governments of China and France. Former French President Jacques Chirac, former Prime Ministers Jean-Pierre Raffarin, Alain Juppé, Jean-Marc Ayrault, and Bernard Cazeneuve have all visited Wuhan. Former French Ambassador to China, Mr. Maurice Gourdault-Montagne, commented that “Wuhan is the most approachable city for the French.” Former Prime Minister Bernard Cazeneuve also stated in his speech in Wuhan, “Wuhan is the Chinese city with the most French charm.”