France's consul general talks with Guiyang Foreign Affairs Office

Guillaume Delvallee, consul general of Consulate-general of France in Chengdu, paid a visit to the Guiyang Foreign Affairs Office in Guiyang, capital of Southwest China's Guizhou province, on Feb 23.

Liu Song, member of the leading Party members group and deputy director of the Guiyang Foreign Affairs Office, talked with Delvallee.

Liu Song (R), member of the leading Party members group and deputy director of the Guiyang Foreign Affairs Office, talks with Guillaume Delvallee (L), consul general of the Consulate-general of France in Chengdu. [Photo/ Guiyang Foreign Affairs Office]

The two discussed advancing exchanges and cooperation between Guiyang and France in education, science and technology, developing more sister city links and culture.

Liu briefly introduced Guiyang's economic and social development. He said that Guiyang has developed rapidly in recent years, and its economic growth rate is higher than the average level of the province and the country.

Based on the exchanges between Guiyang and France, Liu put forward three suggestions. He called for big international events held in Guiyang to be supported by the French consulate-general in Chengdu –and Guiyang invited Delvallee to participate in the China International Big Data Industry Expo 2023 (Big Data Expo 2023).

To date, Guiyang has not established sister relations with any city in France. Liu said it will be great if Guiyang can form such ties with a French metropolis, with the support of the Consulate-general of France in Chengdu.

Meanwhile, it is hoped that the Guiyang Foreign Affairs Office and the Consulate-general of France in Chengdu will further establish a more efficient and pragmatic communications and contact mechanism to promote China-French cultural activities and educational exchanges and cooperation, Liu added.

Liu Song (R2) and Guillaume Delvallee (L2) pose with other officials. [Photo/ Guiyang Foreign Affairs Office]

Delvallee said that in the wake of the disruptions to exchanges caused by the three-year COVID-19 pandemic, French cities need time to recover and develop their knowledge of Chinese cities.

Next year is the 60th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and France and it is also seen as a great opportunity to relaunch cultural exchanges between China and France. It is hoped that Guiyang can participate in these related activities.

The consul general expressed his willingness to participate in the Big Data Expo 2023.

He also expressed his aspiration that with the assistance of the Guiyang Foreign Affairs Office, exchanges and cooperation between French universities and Guiyang's universities in finance, mathematics, the arts and other disciplines can be further strengthened.

The consul general added that it is hoped that activities such as the China-France Environment Month and the French Science Festival will be held in Guiyang.