A view of Beijing (left) and Paris Photos: VCG

Editor's Note:

The "Global Dialogue - Toward the Future" youth cultural exchange event was held recently in Paris, France. Guests and youth representatives from China and France, in the fields of culture, education, film and television, gathered to conduct in-depth discussions on cross-cultural communication and people-to-people exchanges. In the fifth article of the "China-Europe Resonance" column, we selected the opinions of both Chinese and French experts and professionals to further explore relevant topics.

Experiencing firsthand a real and multifaceted China

Joyce Jonathan, a French singer and songwriter

China and France share a long and closely intertwined history. Love for one's motherland, respect for elders, valuing traditions and upholding friendship are cherished values ​​shared by the youth of both countries, facilitating smoother cultural exchanges. The future path of friendship between China and France depends not only on diplomacy and other official channels but also on every one of us, including young people, artists and ordinary citizens from all walks of life in both countries.

My connection with China began with my family. My parents worked in China for many years. My mother was fascinated by China's scenery, culture and philosophy, and the cultural and tourism organization she founded in Paris was one of the earliest to promote two-way tourism between China and France. Later, I built a precious connection with Chinese audiences through music, and as time went on, this friendship deepened. China has truly become my "second hometown."

Today, the atmosphere of cultural exchanges between China and France is growing stronger, reflected in the shared interests in each other's cultures, lifestyles, fashion trends, business, and music and art. Young people in both countries are open to each other's cultures, and willing to listen and share - qualities that form a solid foundation for building bridges of friendship between the two nations. More and more French people are beginning to pay attention to Chinese cuisine, fashion and design.

On French social media platforms, young people frequently share photos of China's famous mountains, rivers, and bustling cities, making social media an important window for French youth to learn about China. Every time I return to France from China, I tell those around me about my experiences there, encouraging them to set foot on that land and experience the real, multifaceted China for themselves.

Open-minded and listening to each other

Gilles Thompson, French filmmaker and one of the co-directors of Kangxi and Louis XIV

Strengthening cultural exchanges between China and France is profoundly significant to me. In the film industry, China, France and other European countries have produced numerous co-productions, but the public often only sees the final cut and doesn't fully understand what "co-production" truly means, nor the collaborative models and workflows that underpin it. Therefore, strengthening cultural exchanges is particularly important; it can help us break down cognitive barriers and truly enable us to become closer and understand one another.

The essence of transnational collaboration lies not in preconceived notions of what one wants to achieve, but in understanding each other's work habits and creative goals, and proactively seeking ways to cooperate. 

This concept also permeated the entire creative process of the China-France co-production documentary film Kangxi and Louis XIV.

We always had one goal: to give this film an "international flavor" - it should not only be understandable to Chinese audiences, but also allow a global audience to appreciate this story of cultural exchange that transcends time and space. In the final cut, viewers can hardly tell which segments were completed by the French team and which were done by the Chinese team, as all the content has been integrated into a cohesive whole.

Through this creation, I am even more convinced that on the road of cultural exchanges, as long as we are willing to open our minds, listen to each other and understand one another, there is nothing that cannot be achieved.

Building more communication bridges

Nicolas Deschamps, founder and president of the French Association of Producers France Coproduction

China and France differ in many ways. Therefore, when filmmakers from both countries truly come together to collaborate, they must find a new way of storytelling. In my view, truly effective co-productions are neither entirely Chinese nor entirely French stories, but rather a shared expression that gradually forms through long-term exchanges between two cultural experiences and two sets of creative logics.

China is a powerful and wonderful "big family" in my heart. I can name many cities that I will never forget: Jilin, Nanjing, Chongqing, Chengdu, Xi'an, Wuxi... Every time I visit, the friendliness and sincerity of the local people deeply touch me. Not long ago, I finished a 20-day trip to China. The first stop was Jilin, where I was invited to attend a documentary film festival themed around international exchange and co-production. The vitality and creativity of the city left a very deep impression on me.

In Inner Mongolia, we have just started production on the feature film Wolf Valley. Ten years after the release of the China-France co-production Wolf Totem, we hope to tell a completely new story: 500 years ago, a boy saved a wolf; today, a young Mongolian girl living in France is saved by a wolf, and embarks on a journey back to her homeland to rediscover and understand the roots of her culture.

Promoting cultural exchanges between Chinese and French youth holds special significance for me, embodying two things I have always cherished: film and the spirit of youth - a spirit full of curiosity, openness and courage. Such exchanges leave behind numerous concrete experiences of collaboration. These experiences will continue to influence the next generation of creators, helping them build more bridges of communication, stimulating sustained curiosity and enabling more French people to gain a deeper understanding of China.

Exchanges and mutual learning between the two civilizations demonstrate a vibrant vitality

Wang Zhan, distinguished professor at the School of Foreign Languages, Tianjin University

In 1964, France became the first major Western power to formally establish diplomatic relations with the People's Republic of China. Since then, for over 60 years, people-to-people exchanges and close cooperation between the two countries have flourished. These two great civilizations of East and West have achieved self-growth and innovation through mutual learning and exchanges, jointly demonstrating a vibrant vitality. The number of sister provinces and cities, as well as the number of tourists between the two countries, rank among the highest compared to other European countries. 

To a certain extent, it is precisely on the important foundation of people-to-people exchanges that China-France cooperation in other fields such as trade and economy has continuously expanded and strengthened. Both countries adhere to the principles of mutual benefit and win-win cooperation, striving to expand economic benefits and using openness to gather cooperative strength and share development opportunities.

The year 2025 marked the start of a new 60-year cycle for China-France relations, and the China-France high-level dialogue mechanism on people-to-people exchanges also enters its second decade. In the current complex and volatile international landscape, the more frequent the conflicts, the more we need people-to-people exchanges; the more chaotic the world becomes, the more we need to work together to overcome confusion and find the right direction. 

China and France should uphold the original aspirations that guided them when establishing diplomatic relations, promote the spirit of "independence, mutual understanding, foresight, mutual benefit and win-win outcomes," continue to accelerate the "two-way" approach to people-to-people exchanges. 

Together, they can create a new wave of China-France people-to-people exchanges and set an example for civilizational exchanges between China, Europe, and the world at large.