French youth visits Guiyang for biz, cultural exchange

A French delegation sponsored by the 3rd Ambassador Wu Jianmin Award paid a friendship visit to Guiyang, capital of Guizhou province, from June 11 to 13, 2019, aiming at strengthening the ties between the youths of the two countries. 

Sun Zhiming, deputy mayor of Guiyang, met with the delegation in their first day to the southwestern city. The two sides exchanged views on deepening Sino-France friendship and enhancing mutual understanding between the youths of the two countries. 

As an exchange program of the Wu Jianmin Foundation, the visit is committed to giving the French youths a more comprehensive and true understanding of China, and deepening the friendship between the two countries. 

The delegation expected to acquire a closer grasp of the practice and achievements of innovation and entrepreneurship in Guiyang, and help create new opportunities for future cooperation in innovation and entrepreneurship between youths from both countries.

China and France have enjoyed time-honored friendship and so have the people. These years, Guiyang has witnessed rapid growth, especially the leapfrog progress in the big data industry, from which the delegation would learn a lot, according to Sun. 

This highly valued visit was an opportunity should be seized to set up a new milestone in exchanges and cooperation between Guiyang and France. 

The deputy mayor also asked that the visiting French youth put forward their suggestions for Guiyang’s development. 

Wang Lin, deputy secretary-general of the Wu Jianmin Foundation was amazed at the achievements made by Guizhou province and Guiyang city in recent years. 

During their stay in Guiyang, the delegation visited a number of high-tech enterprises in the high-tech industrial development zone and the free trade zone. 

They held discussions with the representatives of Youth Entrepreneurs Association of the Youth League Committee, the Guiyang General Chamber of Commerce and Guiyang high-tech enterprises for a detailed grasp of the favorable policies of Guizhou province and Guiyang city on innovation and entrepreneurship. 

The attendees also exchanged views on the technology, promotion, talent introduction, international exchange and cooperation, innovation and other possible issues related to the business development.

The visit significantly improved the overall understanding of Guiyang and Guizhou for the delegation members, the majority of whom has limited knowledge about the Chinese city and province. 

They learned about the city from various perspectives and also that apart from tourism, Guiyang has made great progress in big data, big ecology, and other fields these years. 

In the French youths’ eyes, Guiyang is such a dynamic and beautiful city propelled by big data and artificial intelligence sectors, and the city is poised to be the next Shenzhen in time. 

Alfred Lebour, a delegation member, pointed out that Guiyang was younger and more dynamic than Shenzhen, and commented "If the data is oil of the new era, then Guiyang is Riyadh of the new era" inspired by Kai-Fu Lee’s quote "If the data is oil of the new era, then China is Saudi Arabia of the new era". 

All of the members hoped that the ties between France and Guiyang would be strengthened so that more French enterprises and youngsters would learn about Guiyang and its growth edges. They were also willing to serve as a bridge linking both sides and promote exchanges and cooperation in various facets.

The French delegation sponsored by the 3rd Ambassador Wu Jianmin Award visits a company in Guiyang city’s high-tech industrial development zone during their two-day visit to the capital of Guizhou province from June 11 to 13, 2019. [Photo provided to english.guiyang.gov.cn]