Europe-Asia Center: Celebrating Sino-French Relations in Paris
- Europe-Asia Center
- May 1
- 2 min read
Paris, 1 May 2025
A full day of events celebrating Chinese culture and Sino-French cultural exchange unfolded in Paris on April 30, 2025, featuring the high-level opening of the “Souffle d'Orient” thematic exhibition at the Paris Expo Porte de Versailles and the China-France Dialogue for the Promotion of Cultural Exchange and Mutual Appreciation. The events brought together senior diplomats, cultural leaders, and scholars from both countries to advance mutual understanding and intercultural cooperation.
The exhibition featured a keynote speech by H.E. Irina Bokova, former Director-General of UNESCO and Senior Advisor to the Board of the Europe-Asia Center, alongside Yu Tao, Vice-President of the China International Communications Group (CICG); H.E. Ambassador Yang Xinyu, Permanent Representative of China to UNESCO; Catherine Ruggeri, General Inspector of Cultural Affairs at the French Ministry of Culture; and Vincent Montagne, President of the "Festival du livre de Paris." Held at the China Pavilion of the Paris Expo, the “Souffle d'Orient” exhibition was organized by the Institute of Contemporary China and the World (ACCWS), sponsored by CICG, and supported by the Chinese Embassy in France.
The event opened with a stunning live performance, “The Prosperity of Peonies,” a classical Chinese dance inspired by the national flower and set in the grandeur of the Tang Dynasty’s capital, Luoyang.
Later that afternoon, the focus shifted to a high-level cultural dialogue under the theme “Peaceful Development and Mutual Understanding of Civilizations.” Organized by ACCWS and co-hosted with the French association Friends of Wu Jianmin, the dialogue brought together policymakers, cultural scholars, and media professionals.
Jonathan Schwestka, Europe Director of the Europe-Asia Center, also participated in the second panel session of the program, alongside famous movie director Karim Houffaid; photographer Jean-Paul Lubliner; Qian Haifeng, Deputy Editor-in-Chief of the Guizhou People's Publishing House; Liu Jizhong, Director of the Publicity Department of the CPC Zhongyang County Committee; and Wang Nan, Deputy Director of the Bureau of Culture, Radio, Television and Tourism of Luoyang. In his contributions, he called for a shift from confrontation to cultural empathy in EU-China relations, urging recognition of historical trauma and mutual respect. Drawing on peace theorist Johan Galtung, he emphasized that peace requires shared memory, intercultural understanding, and investment in collaborative cultural initiatives.
The day concluded with a summary by a representative of the Institute of Contemporary China and the World, reinforcing a shared commitment to deeper dialogue and continued cooperation between China and France in cultural, academic, and media fields.
For press enquiries:
Jonathan Schwestka, Director for Europe, Europe – Asia Center
