Consul General of France in Shanghai visits Zhejiang University to deepen ties

On the afternoon of July 10, Joan Valadou, Consul General of France in Shanghai, visited Zhejiang University, accompanied by a delegation from the French Consulate. Vice President ZHOU Jianghong met with the guests.

Vice President ZHOU highlighted the long-standing and fruitful cooperation between Zhejiang University and French institutions. He pointed to strong collaborations in youth exchange programs, joint talent cultivation, language and cultural studies, heritage preservation, human wellness, and sustainable development. He reaffirmed Zhejiang University’s strong commitment to Sino-French academic and cultural exchange and expressed hopes for further deepening ties. He also emphasized the importance of expanding the network of cooperation with French partners, particularly in emerging and strategic fields, with continued support from the Consulate General.

Consul General Valadou commended Zhejiang University’s global reputation and the depth of its collaborations with French institutions. He noted that this visit opened up new opportunities to explore areas of mutual interest and strengthen bilateral academic ties. Valadou also expressed his hope that Zhejiang University would continue to support the development of French language and cultural studies, engage actively in joint research and innovation aligned with shared strategic goals, and promote greater people-to-people exchanges. He warmly welcomed more students from Zhejiang University to pursue further studies in France.

The meeting was also attended by representatives from the School of International Studies, the School of History, and the Office of Global Engagement.

Following the meeting, Consul General Valadou and his delegation toured Zhejiang University Museum of Art and Archaeology, where they visited the special exhibition A Comprehensive Collection of Ancient Chinese Paintings: Yuan Dynasty. They also took time to meet with undergraduate and graduate students majoring in French, engaging in friendly conversations that underscored the strong cultural bonds between China and France.

Adapted and translated from the article by ZHEN Qi

Translator: FANG Fumin

Photos by Global ZJU

Editor: HE Jiawen, ZHU Ziyu