President MA Yanming meets with French Ambassador to China Bertrand Lortholary

On May 21, Bertrand Lortholary, Ambassador of France to China, visited Zhejiang University. President MA Yanming welcomed Ambassador Lortholary and his delegation to Zijingang Campus, where the two sides discussed opportunities to further strengthen higher education cooperation between China and France.

MA Yanming introduced the university’s latest developments and distinctive strengths. He noted that Zhejiang University places immense importance on its partnerships with France.Over the years, the university has built strong relationships with a number of leading French institutions, fostering fruitful collaboration in education, scientific research, and cultural exchange.

As part of Zhejiang University’s Europe Year for Global Collaboration, the university will continue to strengthen the Institute for French Studies while expanding practical cooperation with French universities, research institutes, and industry partners. Through these partnerships, both sides aim to explore innovative approaches to higher education and address the opportunities and challenges of an increasingly interconnected world.

Bertrand Lortholary spoke highly of Zhejiang University’s academic excellence and international reputation. He noted that the university has established a strong foundation for cooperation with French institutions of higher education, and that the founding of the Institute for French Studies reflects its long-standing commitment to French studies and to people-to-people exchanges between the two countries. Looking ahead, he expressed his hope for even closer collaboration, particularly in areas aligned with the scientific and technological priorities of both countries. He also emphasized the vital role that leading universities can play in advancing the shared vision of the two heads of state and fostering stronger ties between China and France.

During the meeting, the delegation received an overview of the Institute for French Studies. XU Jun, Distinguished Professor of Liberal Arts and Chief Expert of the Institute, presented Bertrand Lortholary with a selection of representative publications.

During the visit, the delegation also toured the Zhejiang University Future Learning Center, where they learned about the university’s latest initiatives in future-oriented education, AI-enabled learning, and interdisciplinary innovation. Bertrand Lortholary was briefed on ongoing research collaborations with French partners and met with students majoring in French to hear about their academic experiences and aspirations.

The visit was attended by ZHOU Jianghong, Vice President of Zhejiang University; HE Lianzhen, Vice Chair of the Zhejiang University Development Committee; and representatives from the Office of Global Engagement, the School of International Studies, the College of Life Sciences, the First Affiliated Hospital of the Zhejiang University School of Medicine, the Belt and Road International School of Medicine, the Institute for French Studies, as well as faculty members and students.

The visit reaffirmed the shared commitment of Zhejiang University and its French partners to advancing academic excellence, innovation, and people-to-people exchange, opening up new aveneues for deeper collaboration in education, research, and cultural engagement.

Adapted and translated from the article written by SHU Conghan
Translator: FANG Fumin
Editor: DING Chenwei