A delegation from the French Consulate General in Guangzhou, led by Mr. Olivier Ngo, Science and Higher Education Attaché, visited Hainan University (HNU) on December 4. Xu Miao, Deputy Director of HNU’s Office of International Cooperation and Exchange, met with the visitors. Representatives from the School of International Education, School of International Studies, School of International Tourism and Public Administration, and International Business School (IBS) also attended the meeting.

Meeting venue

Xu Miao extended a cordial welcome to the delegation and briefed them on HNU and its recent achievements. She emphasized HNU’s enthusiastic response to President Xi Jinping’s call for enhanced cultural exchanges during his visit to France in May. With 2024 marking the 60th anniversary of diplomatic relations between China and France, Xu anticipated in-depth cooperation with French universities in such areas as student exchange, faculty visits, and joint research programs.

Zhang Zhao, Associate Dean of the School of International Education, introduced HNU’s short- and long-term programs for international students, and Mr. Olivier Ngo expressed his willingness to encourage more French youth to study in Hainan. Wang Yong, Associate Dean of the School of International Studies, elaborated on the newly-minted master’s program in French Language and Literature, and had a productive discussion on how to enhance French language education. He Biao, Associate Dean of the School of International Tourism and Public Administration, proposed cooperative programs with the University of Burgundy (UB) and the University of Toulouse. Chen Shipei, Deputy Director of IBS’s International Cooperation and Exchange Center, outlined the plan to operate a joint master’s program with Paris École des Ponts Business School (EPBS).

Mr. Olivier thanked HNU for the hospitality and lauded its remarkable achievements. He noted that as China and France approach the 61st anniversary of diplomatic ties, the French Consulate-general in Guangzhou will actively mobilize resources to expand academic and cultural exchanges with HNU. He underscored the potential for collaboration in French language education, tropical agriculture, and public health, reaffirming its commitment to facilitating bilateral cooperation.

Group photo of attendees

Source from Office of International Cooperation & Exchange

Translated by Han Yunsheng

Proofread by Kuang Xiaowen, Yang Jie