On December 10th, under the guidance and support of the China Education Association for International Exchange (CEAIE) and the Education Department of Liaoning Province, opening ceremony of Liaoning YES Program and DUFL Sino-French University Student Cultural Exchange Event was successfully held. As the first institution to undertake the Liaoning YES Program, DUFL is happy to witness friendship between the youth from China and France blooming. The following guests attended the ceremony and delivered speeches: Kong Feng, the Party member and deputy director of the Education Department of Liaoning Province; Albert Courtois, principal of the La Providence Education Group; Philippe Laignez, chairman of the Group; Ren Shulei, secretary-general of the ACESF, director of Asia-Pacific Strategy and Development Office and executive principal of Greater China, ISTEC; Wang Weichen, the Party secretary of Dalian University of Foreign Languages. Liu Fengguang, vice president of DUFL, presided over the ceremony. Teaching staffs and students from ISTEC and DUFL also attended the ceremony.
This year marks the 60th anniversary of the diplomatic ties between China and France. The leaders of both sides jointly proposed an initiative to promote exchanges among the youth and launched the “Young Envoys Scholarship Program” (YES Program), aiming to build a bridge to facilitate in-depth communication in multiple fields including culture, education and innovation. Liaoning thoroughly implements General Secretary Xi's important speeches, instructions and approvals on the comprehensive revitalization of Northeast China and Liaoning. To implement “YES Program”, the Education Department of Liaoning carefully planned and actively developed programs with distinct features. At the first year of the Liaoning YES Program, we welcomed 27 faculties and students from France. The event consists a set of activities around course study, local schools and enterprises visit and culture experience to promote mutual understanding and develop lasting friendship among the youth.
Kong Feng, the Party member and deputy director of the Education Department of Liaoning Province pointed out: As the gate of Northeast China, Liaoning has a long history, rich cultural heritages, solid industry strength and superior port resources, with unique benefits in geography, industry, science and education. Over the recent 60 years, friendly cooperation between the both sides has been constantly deepened. New opportunities from various prospects emerged and many are waiting to explore. We hope the youth can observe and visit China with their own eyes and feet to discover natural beauties, human kindness and romantic spirit here. The new stories between China and France rely on the young generation to narrate.
Wang Weichen, the Party secretary of DUFL said: This year marks the 60th anniversary of diplomatic ties between China and France, and DUFL has also gone through 60 years since its founding. This program is an important practice for DUFL to actively implement President Xi's initiative. We wish to promote mutual understanding between the two ancient nations through student exchanges. These years, DUFL has cultivated over 3,000 multi-skilled talents who master French and other skills. French serves as a bridge for them and help them to actively participated in international affairs. They are the achievements for education exchange between China and France. In this event, we hope the participants can enhance friendship and know much about current China through cultural communication, being a speaker of the two splendid civilizations.
Albert Courtois, principal of the La Providence Education Group mentioned: This event is an outstanding fruit of cultural exchanges between China and France, which helps to enhance friendship between the young generation and is of great significance for consolidating mutual relations and promoting bilateral openness. I hope we can take this event as an opportunity to strengthen cooperation with DUFL and develop much platforms for student exchange and to build a more solid foundation for the bilateral relations.
Ren Shulei, secretary-general of the ACESF stated: DUFL and ISTEC has established a partner relation since July 2021. Taking cooperation as the cornerstone of promoting education innovation and enhancing international understanding, both parties always adhere to the principal of openness and share and commit to cultivating talents with a global perspective. I hope the youth from France can broaden their horizons, gain friendship, touch the Chinese traditional culture here and bring this valuable memory back to hometown. I wish this event can promote Sino-French cultural exchanges to a new height.
Liu Fengguang, vice president of DUFL, presided over the ceremony
Giulio Humbaggi, the student representative from ISTEC, and An Yue, the student representative from French Studies at DUFL, delivered speeches at the opening ceremony.
The guests and student representatives pressed button together to officially launch the Liaoning YES Program and the 2024 DUFL Sino-French University Student Cultural Exchange Event.
After the ceremony, Wang Weichen, the Party secretary of DUFL, and Philippe Laignez, chairman of the La Providence Education Group, signed a cooperation framework agreement on behalf of both sides.
Liu Fengguang, vice president of DUFL met with principal Albert Courtois and his delegation. Heads of relevant offices and faculties attended the meeting.
In the future, DUFL will strive to be the pioneer for Sino-French cultural exchanges by expanding scales, enriching forms and developing characteristic short-term and long-term programs. We hope to achieve common development and promote mutual learning through win-win cooperation and communication, thus further contribute to people-to-people friendship between China and France.
