Who doesn’t fall in love with the French language? The French language itself speaks of elegance and sensuality. It is one of the United Nations’ six working languages and is spoken by over 320 million people. This March, the French Cultural Center and French-speaking embassies and missions in China are coordinating the 27th French Month. The annual event is being celebrated on five continents. As in Guangzhou, a series of exciting events provide an excellent opportunity for exchanges between Chinese and French enthusiasts.

French art de vivre

On March 25, the Consulate General of France in Guangzhou kicked off the celebration of the International French Language Day, La Vie Française, at the International Grand City (IGC). Olivier NGO, Science and Higher Education Attaché, and Zora BELMEJDOUB GERAULT, Principal of ESMOD Guangzhou, opened the month-long celebration. The launching was attended by guests from French cultural and arts circles. Two iconic buildings in Paris, the Eiffel Tower and the Arc de Triomphe, magnificently serve as the event’s main visuals, giving it a Champs Elysees feel.

French Attaché Olivier NGO (fourth from right) and Mdm Zora BELMEJDOUB GERAULT of ESMOD Guangzhou open French Month with guests and performers.

In his welcome remarks, Mr. Ngo highlights that French is more than intellectual skills and life wisdom—it is an art of living. The French language, which is spoken on five continents, is rich in values, including peace, solidarity, diversity, inclusivity, and tolerance. He looks forward to 2024 as the year of culture and tourism between France and China, as well as the much-anticipated Paris Olympic and Paralympic Games, where friends from China and around the world will be welcomed in France.

Mr. Olivier NGO, Science and Higher Education Attachéat the French Consulate General in Guangzhou, delivers the welcome speech

Mdm Zora BELMEJDOUB GERAULT, Principal of ESMOD Guangzhou, introduces the fashion academy and the collection before the runway show.

During the launching, a group of violinists set the tone for elegance and melody, while a class of children and their teachers delighted the audience with pure fun and enthusiasm. The kids are international students at the French International School of Guangzhou (École Francaise Internationale de Canton, or EFIC). In addition, the event featured a selection of original books from the French online bookstore, where the exhibition stood like those in the streets of Paris.

The Parisian runway

Paris is known as the fashion capital of the world. It is unsurprising that the first fashion academy of haute couture, ESMOD, was established in the city. Dubbed "Harvard in fashion," ESMOD has a reputation for excellence, quality, and elegance. During the event, ESMOD Academy in Guangzhou showcased a unique collection designed by the school’s instructors and outstanding graduates. These creations are the products of team efforts, bringing together Chinese and French arts.

ESMOD Guangzhou showcases outstanding works by alumni.

ESMOD Guangzhou showcases outstanding works by alumni.

France-China socio-cultural ties

France is the first Western power to establish formal diplomatic relations with China in 1964. The French-Chinese relationship was raised to the level of “global strategic partnership” in 2004.

In recent years, the Consulate General of France in Guangzhou has been excited to share the latest advances in French science and technology with the Chinese people, Mr. NGO told Outlook New Era.

“Moi plus particulièrement suis chargé de promouvoir des échanges universitaires, c’est à dire des échanges d’étudiants, ainsi des échanges de professeurs, de scientifiques, entre la France et la Chine dans les deux sens,“ he said.

[As Attaché for science, technology, and higher education, it is my responsibility to promote student and professorial exchanges between France and China in both directions.]

Moving forward, Mr. Ngo remarked, “C’est seulement en se comprenant mieux, on va mieux travailler ensemble, plutôt que de nous laisser éloigner par nos différences, il faudrait au contraire que nous enrichissent mutuellement, je crois c’est ça le plus important finalement, c’est de former des ambassadeurs et des ambassadrices, des jeunes chinois et des jeunes chinoises, des jeunes français et des jeunes françaises, qui comprennent des cultures des uns et des autres, et comme ca qu’on pourra mieux travailler ensemble.”

[It is only by understanding each other better that we will be able to work together better. Rather than letting our differences push us apart, we should instead enrich each other. I believe this is the most important thing in the end. Train ambassadors, young [Chinese and French] men and women, to understand each other’s culture to be able to work better together.]

Fashion is inseparable from French culture. Aside from fashion, French history, literature, and music have been well promoted in China. Mr. Ngo believes that people-to-people exchanges are the foundation of France-China relations, and that it is very vital for both sides to understand each other's culture.

The next several weeks will be jam-packed with events, including a film festival, a break dance party, a Hennessy cognac tasting, and workshops on fashion design, in Guangdong Province.

EFIC students and teachers serenade the audience.

A melodious violin performance captivates the guests.