Charles Andre Joseph de Gaulle, was a French general and statesman who led the Free French Forces during World War II. He later founded the French Fifth Republic and served as its first President.

De Gaulle was heralded as the founder of Sino-French diplomatic relations.  He and Mao Ze Dong clinched a momentous agreement on 27 January 1964 to forge bilateral diplomatic ties between the Republic of China and the Republic of France.