On the afternoon of September 18, Joan Valadou, Consul General of France in Shanghai, accompanied by the Consuls for Political Affairs, Education, Science and Technology, Press Affairs, and other officials—a delegation of seven in total—visited Ningbo University. President Cai Ronggen, Academician of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, met with the delegation. Vice President Dai Shixun presided over the meeting.
President Cai extended a warm welcome to Consul General Valadou and his delegation, and gave a brief introduction to the university’s history, disciplinary strengths, and achievements in internationalization. He emphasized that Ningbo University has always attached great importance to cooperation with French universities and research institutions. A solid foundation has already been established in areas such as faculty and student exchanges, joint research, and talent cultivation. He expressed the hope that this visit would serve as an opportunity to further expand pragmatic cooperation between China and France in higher education, scientific and technological innovation, and people-to-people exchanges, thereby jointly advancing bilateral educational cooperation to new heights.
Consul General Valadou expressed his gratitude for the warm reception and spoke highly of the university’s achievements and its international vision. He noted that 2025 marks the beginning of a new 60-year cycle in China–France relations. France has long valued cooperation with China in education and science, and he hoped both sides would continue to deepen collaboration in academic research, faculty and student exchanges, and the promotion of language and culture, contributing educational strength to enhancing friendship and mutual learning between the two civilizations.
The meeting was also attended by officials from the International Office, the Health Science Center, and the Ningbo University - University of Angers Joint Institute at Ningbo University.
During their stay, Consul General Valadou and his delegation visited the Health Science Center, received a briefing on the development of the Sino–French dual doctoral program in Clinical Medicine, and met with program graduates and current students. They also attended the seminar on the development of the Ningbo University - University of Angers Joint Institute at Ningbo University and the ceremony for conferring the Chevalier de l’ordre des Palmes Académiques. In addition, they toured the Pan Tianshou College of Architecture, Art and Design and the College of Music, and exchanged views with faculty and students of the Joint Institute.
