'French Elegance' Meets 'Central Plains Charm'

"French Elegance" Meets "Central Plains Charm":

Henan Witnesses the Romantic Encounter of China-French Culture

“法式美”邂逅“中原风”

——河南见证中法文化浪漫之约

　　Photo/People's Daily

The year 2024 marks the 60th anniversary of the establishment of China-France diplomatic ties, and it is also the China-France Year of Culture and Tourism. This year has witnessed frequent encounters between the "French style" and the "Central Plains charm," initiating romantic rendezvous of China-French culture and adding vibrant colors to the Croisements Festival.

万里之遥，不以为远。文明之光，相互映照。以庆祝中法建交60周年暨中法文化旅游年为契机，今年以来，时尚优雅的“法式美”与厚重灿烂的“中原风”频频相遇，开启一次次中法文化的浪漫之约，也为中法文化交流之春增添一抹抹亮色。

On May 1st, the exhibition themed with "Henan, Where China Began "launched at the 2024 Paris International Expo, showcasing over a hundred pieces of ceramic masterpieces ranging from colored pottery from the Yangshao culture period to Tang Dynasty tri-colored pottery, and then to Ru porcelain and Jun porcelain of the Song Dynasty, introducing the French people the rich and diverse ceramic culture of Henan. French historian Félix Torres said that this exhibition provided everyone with a great opportunity to understand Chinese culture, helping to perceive Chinese culture and appreciate the voice of China.

5月1日，河南元素惊艳亮相法国巴黎。“遇鉴中国”中华文化主题展之“行走河南·读懂中国”主题展亮相2024法国巴黎国际博览会，造型各异的百余件陶瓷精品展示了从仰韶文化时期的彩陶到唐代的唐三彩，再到宋代的汝瓷、钧瓷等，向法国民众讲述了河南丰富多彩的陶瓷文化。法国史学家菲力克斯·托雷斯感叹：“本次展览为大家提供了一个了解中国文化的好机会，帮助我们感知中国文化，聆听中国声音。”

Encountering elements of Henan in France is no longer a novelty. Meng Bin, the director of the Henan Provincial Industrial Design Center at Henan Agricultural University, had his oil painting "Artistic Youth" exhibited at the Louvre in early April, attracting many visitors to appreciate. Meng said, "Being invited to exhibit at the Louvre during the 60th anniversary of the establishment of China-France diplomatic ties is a great honor for me. I hope to exchange and learn from artists from around the world through participating in this international art exchange exhibition, promoting Central Plains culture and excellent traditional Chinese culture to the rest of the world." More and more cities in Henan are also entering the view of the French people. Previously, the French newspaper "Le Figaro"published a full-page article titled "Zhengzhou ambitionne de devenir lecentre logistique de Chine," telling the wonderful story of Zhengzhou's opening up and development, and French TV5MONDE once aired a short video about shiitake mushrooms from Xixia County in Henan.

在法国邂逅河南元素，已不是新鲜事。孟滨是河南农业大学省级工业设计中心主任，4月上旬，他创作的油画《艺术青年》在法国卢浮宫展出，植根于中原的艺术作品吸引参观者驻足、拍照。孟滨说：“能在中法建交60周年的特殊节点受邀在卢浮宫参展，我非常荣幸。希望通过参加这样的国际艺术交流展，与世界各地的美术工作者交流切磋，让中原文化、中华优秀传统文化走向世界。”越来越多河南城市也进入法国民众的视野。此前，法国《费加罗报》曾刊登整版文章《中国郑州：“国际商都”乘势启航》，讲述了郑州开放发展的精彩故事；法国电视全球五台曾播出讲述西峡香菇的短片。

In Henan, the cultural exchanges between Chinese and French cultures are even more frequent. This year, Nicolas Pillerel, Minister Counselor for Culture, Education, and Scientific Affairs of the French Embassy in China, and Xavier Loustaunau, Education and Sports Commissioner, visited Henan successively to participate in cultural exchange activities. Besides high-level exchanges, youth exchanges are also in full swing. In March,13-year-old French student Wang Xihao came to Henan for the first time. He visited the Shaolin Temple and experienced French boxing and Shaolin martial arts with his French classmates. The profound Central Plains culture and the ancient traditional architecture left a deep impression on Wang Xihao. He said, "Henan is very beautiful, and the whole journey is very comfortable. I like sports very much. Experiencing two kinds of sports and cultures from China and France at the Shaolin Temple is very interesting and rewarding for me."

距巴黎万里之外的大河之南，中法文化交流更加火热。今年，法国驻华大使馆文化、教育与科学事务公使衔参赞裴国良，教育和体育专员卢哲巍先后到访河南，参与中法人文交流活动，见证河南与法国“双向奔赴”。高层交往之外，青少年交流也如火如荼。3月，13岁的法国学生王熙皓第一次来到河南，参观少林寺，并和法国同学一起体验了法式拳击与少林武术。博大精深的中原文化、古色古香的传统建筑让王熙皓印象深刻。他说：“河南非常漂亮，整个旅程令人感到很舒服。我平时很喜欢体育运动，能在少林寺同时感受中国和法国的两种运动、两种文化，是一件很有趣的事，也让我收获很多。”

The romantic French culture also attracts young people from Henan. The Alliance Française, with a history of more than 140 years, is the world's largest organization for the promotion of French language and culture. The Alliance Française of Zhengzhou is the thirteenth in China and the only one in Henan Province. Lu Yue, the Chinese principal of the Alliance Française of Zhengzhou, introduced that during the French Language Activities Month in March this year, the Alliance Française of Zhengzhou held a series of activities such as French song contests, French poetry recitations, knowledge competitions on French-speaking countries and regions, and French film screenings, immersing many young people into a diverse and inclusive French-speaking atmosphere. Rémi BAROIS, the French Director of the Alliance Française of Zhengzhou, likes these exchanges of French and Henan culture very much. He hopes more young people will explore and appreciate the cultures of different countries and contribute to the promotion of exchanges and mutual learning among world civilizations.

浪漫的法国文化，同样吸引着河南的年轻人“回粉”。拥有140多年历史的法语联盟是全球最大的法语语言和文化推广机构，郑州法语联盟是中国第十三家、河南省唯一的法语联盟。郑州法语联盟中方校长卢悦介绍，今年3月法语活动月期间，郑州法语联盟举办了法语歌曲大赛、法语诗歌朗诵大赛、法语国家及地区知识竞赛、法语电影放映等系列活动，塑造了一个多元包容的法语世界，一大批年轻人参与其中，体验原汁原味的“法式生活”。郑州法语联盟法方校长白鹤鸣对这种交流感到高兴，他表示，法国文化与当地文化相结合，会产生不一样的火花。他说：“希望更多的年轻人探索和领略世界各国的文化，为推动世界文明交流互鉴作出贡献。”

Holding hands for sixty years, China-French friendship will ever last fresh. Rich in culture, Henan will continue to promote communication between Chinese and French cultures, hoping that more fruitful outcomes can be achieved between the two countries.

牵手一甲子，中法友谊历久弥新。文化大省河南，也将继续推动中法两国的浪漫之约，书写人文相亲的“河南时刻”，见证友谊之路的繁花似锦。（中文来源/河南日报 记者/沈剑奇 童林 编译/童林 英文审校/焦丹）