On the afternoon of March 26th, President Xiong Sidong met with Consul General Beno?t Guidée of France in Shanghai at the red chamber conference center of Soochow University.

On the afternoon of March 26th, President Xiong Sidong met with Consul General Beno?t Guidée of France in Shanghai at the red chamber conference center of Soochow University.Xiong Sidong first extended a warm welcome to Beno?t Guidée. He briefly introduced the historical evolution and development of Soochow University to the guests, and reviewed the rich achievements of Soochow University and French higher education circles in discipline construction, professional cooperation and teacher-student exchanges. Soochow University had signed inter-university cooperation agreements with 16 French universities and scientific research institutions, and had carried out diversified cooperation and exchanges in many fields, including medicine and textile materials. The long-term friendly and mutually beneficial cooperation between Pasteur College of Soochow University, the Second Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University and College of textile and Clothing Engineering and French universities fully represented the good foundation and bright prospects of Sino-French education, scientific research and humanities.

Beno?t Guidée expressed his gratitude to Soochow University for its long-term outstanding contributions to Sino-French cultural cooperation and exchanges. He said that this year marked the 57th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and France. He hoped to take the fifth Sino-French Cultural Forum as an opportunity to strengthen Sino-French cooperation in education, science and technology, culture and other fields, especially in the fields of climate change and public health.

After the meeting, Beno?t Guidé visited Soochow University Museum.  Several government and university leaders attended the event, including News Consul Marianne ZISS and Education Consul Séverine BOUé from Consulate General of France in Shanghai, Deputy Head Li Wenhui and Deputy Director Shi Yuchao from Foreign Affairs Office of Suzhou Municipal People’s Government, Director Wang Shuao and Deputy Director Zi Hong from Office of International Cooperation and Exchange of Soochow University, Vice Dean Chen Zhixin from Pasteur College of Soochow University, Vice Dean Lu Xun from School of Foreign Languages, and Qiu Jinghua from the Second Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University.