YNU cooperates with France to develop cultural center

The Consul General of France in Chengdu, Bruno Bisson, visited Yunnan University or YNU   ̶ located in Kunming, capital of Southwest China's Yunnan province   ̶ on July 4.

Senior officials from the Consulate General of France in Chengdu and YNU discuss the development of the Kunming Francophone Alliance. [Photo/ynu.edu.cn]

He was joined by Frédéric Bessat, Commissioner for Science, Technology and Education Cooperation at the Consulate General and the two held a discussion with Hu Jinming, vice president of YNU and the heads of colleges at the university.

The two parties conducted talks on the operation and management of the Kunming Francophone Alliance   ̶ founded in 2017 by the Paris Francophone Foundation in cooperation with YNU. The alliance is a cultural center erected on the YNU campus, that is open to everyone who wants to learn more about the French and French-speaking countries and their cultures.

French Consul General Bruno Bisson and YNU Vice President Hu Jinming sign an agreement on July 4. [Photo/ynu.edu.cn]

The center has 10 staff members currently, all with master's degrees in teaching French and the building has classrooms and a book, DVD and magazine library that are open to all each day from 10 am until 6 pm.

The two sides at the meeting also discussed how to further promote educational exchanges and cooperation between YNU and French universities.

YNU's Hu said his university would make every effort to ensure the smooth operation of the cultural center. At the same time, the university would continue to deepen scientific and technological cooperation with French universities and scientific research institutions in the fields of the environment and ecology.

French envoy Bruno Bisson urged the Kunming Francophone Alliance to play a more active role in promoting Sino-French people-to-people and cultural exchanges. He added that the Consulate General would continue to promote educational exchanges and cooperation between French institutions and Yunnan University.