An Introduction to the French Youth Visit Program and the Laureates’ Feedback

An Introduction to the French Youth Visit Program

Former Chinese ambassador to France Wu Jianmin devoted his life to China’s peaceful diplomacy. Patriotic and passionate, he spared no effort to build a bridge with the world and to promote dialogues between China and the West, especially between the youths, making an extraordinary contribution to enhancing the communication and exchange between China and the world. In order to carry forward Ambassador Wu’s peaceful diplomacy and to promote public diplomacy, since its inception, Beijing Wu Jianmin Foundation (WJF) has been curating the International Youth Visit Program as a key project. In 2017, the candidates for visiting China were first selected in France in cooperation with Friends of Wu Jianmin and the Fondation Prospective et Innovation in the country. Since then, ten outstanding French youths from all fields are selected each year to participate in a two-week visit to China. They will visit different cities in China, hold dialogues with representatives from different fields to gain a further understanding of China’s economy, society, politics and culture, as well as a comprehensive and authentic understanding of China’s youths.  The purpose of this program is to help the youths from both countries to know each other, believe in rather than doubt each other, and sow the seeds of friendship for peaceful development of the two countries.

The criteria for selection are as follows: candidates must be under 35 years of age, graduate students with a master’s degree or above, young researchers, or young entrepreneurs with a clear entrepreneurial plan; and must have a good understanding of the bilateral relations between China and France. There are two parts in the selection process: the first process is written test. Eligible and willing French youth should submit a paper of around 5,000 words to the selection committee, chaired by Lan Feng, Chinese ambassador to France. Candidates who pass the written test can go on to the second process to be interviewed by the selection committee. At the end of the interviews, ten people will be selected to participate in the French Youth Visit Program hosted by WJF.

Between May 29 and June 9, 2017, the first delegation from France visited China. This was the first group of French youths to visit China under the WJF International Youth Visit Program. The delegates visited four distinct cities: Beijing, Yinchuan, Hangzhou and Shanghai, and participated in 29 activities and events. The carefully planned program gave the youths an opportunity to understand China in a comprehensive way. The visit went smoothly and achieved anticipated results. 

Between June 3 and 15, 2018, the second delegation visited China. With “Innovation and Entrepreneurship” as the theme, the delegation visited Beijing, Shenzhen and Chengdu, and participated in 35 activities and events. Through the well-designed itinerary, the young delegates from France were able to not only learn about China’s innovation and entrepreneurship but also communicate with Chinese counterparts who were actively engaged in innovation and entrepreneurship. The visit was a great success. 

The Laureates’ Feedback

The organization of our trip was fantastic, as it was both personalized according to our interests and very well thought out. The commitment of the Wu Jianmin and Prospective et Innovation Foundation teams was constant and I knew that I could rely on them both during the visits for translation, advice or information but also if I had a problem. I would like to thank again Mrs Luo Xiaobei and her team for her support when I had to go to the hospital and I was very well taken care of. I only regret that our visits in Chengdu were generally further related to our entrepreneurship and innovation theme and left less room for discussion with our hosts, as opposed to some we had in Beijing or Shenzhen.

——Edouard STEINER

 I would like to thanks all the team for this amazing experience. I have learned so many things during this 10 days, and I think it will change my life as I will explain in this letter.

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I left France with the idea of making new contact, discover new area and having a new look into China. I came back with a different mind, that has evolved. I know now that I want to live in China for the next years and be the witness of the developpement in the cultural and art area especially in Chengdu.

——Jean Borie de Varine

To sum it up, this learning expedition allowed me to meet Chinese central and local authorities, universities, think-tanks, incubators, plants but also with industry leaders and experts, with entrepreneurs and key players in the local technology scene during a two-week Chinese discovery trip. It has been an incredible and inestimable experience for which I warmly thank the Wu Jianmin foundation. 

I hope, in my turn, to be able to contribute in the future to the good relations between France and China on questions specific to innovation by succeeding to get a job at the Chinese Embassy in early 2019 on industrial issues and digital ! In this future prospects, I hope to see you again very soon.

——Marilou ROUJA-VANDENBROUCK

Indeed, this experience was unique. I learnt so many things about Chinese culture and business, met so many great people, eat so many good food, thus made me love China more and more.

Now, I am back in Paris with full of inspiration and ideas to develop cultural exchange between France and China.

Thanks for organizing this opportunity to discover China in a uncommon way.

The rythm was good : intensive and dynamic !

——Daniel TRAN

Overall, thanks to the Wu Jianmin Fundation and the Prospective & Innovation foundation, I had the great opportunity to learn more about the future of China. Three themes struck me most about this future: First, after its development based on manufacturing, China is now embracing science and high technologies, meeting with the universities and and the tech companies, from the start-ups to the giants confirmed me that. Secondly, the country is now to assume a great role on the international scene, willing to defend free trade and win-win development. The emphasis of many of our interlocutors on the One Belt One Road initiative was a great example of this new role. Finally, after years of hectic economic growth, China is now moving toward a more respectful development: both respecting the environment and on its very rich cultural and historical roots. 

I am coming back changed from this discovering trip. With new means of understanding China, I hope that I will be able to pursue the mission started with the Wu Jianmin foundation to promote friendship between our two countries. With new friends and professional contacts, I am developing further a link to China, whether its cultural, professional or emotional, and I hope I will have the opportunity to work for both our countries in the future, and I am very grateful for this opportunity. 

——Baptiste Grandclerc

The reception and organization of the Raffarin Foundation and the Wu Jianmin Foundation has been excellent and of a very high standard. Both foundations were readily available to the laureates and showed a lot of support and understanding. The work of Mrs. Sophia Yuan should be especially applauded; she has continuously translated all the meetings and even allowed us to prolong the discussions during meals and in the evening, showing truly a sense of service and remarkable dedication. 

——Guillaume THIBAULT

I would say that this second edition of Wu Jianmin scholarship is a brilliant success. The journey was well designed and managed, with various and qualified interlocutors in business world, politics, and cultural industry. The choice of the 3 cities was smart and allow our team members to get an interesting insight of contemporary China. For most of us, we learned a lot not only about China but also about what we hope to achieve in the future in our respective professional projects. Personally, I succeed to get a lot of new contacts with journalist, politicians, civil servant that will help me in the future to bring western China and France closer and closer, also shaping the future of exchange student’s experiences in France or in China. This scholarship can be understood as a key access to a high-quality network, an introduction to China for newcomers, but also an amazing opportunity to change mutual perceptions between France and China. In this regard I guess we did fully follow the wish of ambassador Wu Jianmin who called all of us to focus on youth exchange and cooperation for peace and mutual understanding.

——Thibaut BARA