On October 26th, jointly held by the Chinese People’s Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries (CPAFFC), Delegation Office of Alliance fran?aise in China and Mongolia and Alliance fran?aise of Beijing, the Fourth “Autumn of Romance” French Culture Season Opening Ceremony & Press Conference was opened in the CPAFFC. Vice President of the CPAFFC Hu Sishe, Ambassador of Algeria to China Ahcene Boukhelfa, Delegation General of Alliance fran?aise in China and Mongolia Thierry Lasserre, and many other diplomats in China from France, Belgium, Tunisia and Algeria, along with more than a hundred of guests from culture, education, business fields and news media attended the event.

 Vice President Hu Sishe met with honoured guests

Vice President Hu Sishe delivered a speech at the press conference

Mr. Hu noted in his speech that as one of the important bridges of people-to-people exchanges between China and other countries around the world, the CPAFFC cordially welcomes western cultures, as a goodwill envoy, come to China, to meet Chinese culture, to cement a deep friendship with Chinese people and to create a panorama of pluralistic interaction of human exchanges. After the press conference, Mr. Hu took an exclusive interview with NETEASE..

 Thierry Lasserre, Delegation General of Alliance fran?aise in China and Mongolia, delivered a speech

Mr. Thierry Lasserre pointed out in his speech that in 1883, three founders together set three major goals of Alliance fran?aise. The first goal is to promote French, the second is to get more people to understand French culture and the third is to further dialogue between civilizations. It is through this idea that we can better know each other, just like the slogan goes, “Culture is the best weapon for mass education”.

 Opening Ceremony

The opening ceremony consisted of press conference and Q&A, introducing events that this year’s culture season has to domestic and foreign media. At the ceremony, two French teachers from Alliance fran?aise brought romantic Kizomba dance to the audience. Besides, it also held an exclusive performance brought by Hot Club of Beijing at the cocktail party.

Q&A between journalists and event organizers

 French teachers gave a Kizomba dance

Jazz performance at the cocktail party

 NETEASE interviewed Mr. Hu, Vice President of the CPAFFC

This year’s “Autumn of Romance” French Culture Season continues till December, whose events include classical concerts, master classes, master meet-and-greet, workshops, lectures and French Christmas fair and so on, bringing to Chinese audience multi-experience of French countries’ art and romantic feelings. Among classic concert events, the CPAFFC and Alliance fran?aise will together hold a piano recital with the theme of “To Love-My Heart among Your Fingers” at the theater of National Museum of China on November 12th, which is given by the world-renowned Belgian pianist, Olivier De Spiegeleir, who will redefine the infinite charm of music and poems.