On March 25, 2024, on the occasion of the 60th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and France,  Sino-French Institute of Arts and Design Management of the Central Academy of Fine Arts held a celebration ceremony for its fifth anniversary. Gao Hong, Secretary of the Party Committee of the Central Academy of Fine Arts, Joan Valadou, Consul General of France in Shanghai, Alexandre de NAVAILLES, President of KEDGE Business School, Pan Chenghui, Assistant to the President of the Central Academy of Fine Arts, Fu Yijing, Director of the School Office, Wang Chuan, Director of the Office of International Cooperation and Exchange, Séverine Boué, Educational Consul at the Consulate General of France in Shanghai, François Chambraud, President of Shanghai French Alliance, Olivier Pérez, Head of the French Higher Education Agency Shanghai Center, as well as leaders, faculty representatives, and all students of the Sino-French Institute attended the meeting. Yu Ding, Dean of the Sino-French Institute, presided over the meeting.

Secretary Gao Hong delivered a speech

In his address, Secretary Gao Hong pointed out the deep connection between the Central Academy of Fine Arts and French art education, with predecessors such as the former dean Mr. Xu Beihong having studied in France. Over the 60 years since the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and France, the Central Academy of Fine Arts has maintained close exchanges and interactions with many renowned art institutions in France. Ten years ago, on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and France, the Sino-French Institute signed a framework agreement as the only cultural and educational project witnessed by the Prime Ministers of both countries. This marked a new chapter in cooperation between the Central Academy of Fine Arts and France. Over the past five years since the establishment of the Sino-French Institute, significant progress has been made in curriculum development, talent cultivation, campus construction, and facilities improvement through the joint efforts of teams from both China and France.

Secretary Gao Hong expressed three expectations for the future development of the Sino-French Institute. Firstly, to jointly cultivate outstanding talents in arts and design management with a global perspective. President Xi Jinping has proposed the three major initiatives of peace, development, and civilization, aiming to build a community with a shared future for humanity. Art and design serve as a universal language facilitating emotional exchange and integration. Building a better life and a brighter future requires a large number of excellent management talents dedicated to promoting Sino-French friendship and advancing exchanges and mutual learning in the field of art and design. Secondly, to jointly establish a teaching system that adapts to the development of the times and is oriented towards the future. Students should not only understand the development history of Chinese art but also the history of world art development, including that of France. They should learn not only outstanding Chinese culture but also outstanding world culture. It is necessary to continuously innovate teaching methods, nourish students with the outstanding cultures of all humanity, and enhance their innovative spirit and practical ability. Thirdly, to jointly strive to establish the Sino-French Institute as a highly internationalized and distinctive model of education focusing on the arts and design industry. Students should have strong language communication and expression abilities, be familiar with international and market rules, be adept at identifying problems, and have an innovative consciousness to solve them, laying a solid foundation for effectively promoting career development and industrial prosperity in the future. They should be good learners, continuously adjust themselves to adapt to the ever-changing world and the needs of future development. It is necessary to break through past experiences and methods, and form new curricula and educational models. At the Shanghai campus, integration into the Lingang Free Trade Zone and the "Greater Shanghai" initiative is necessary, while at KEDGE Business School, integration into the field of arts and design in France and into French society is essential.

Consul General Joan Valadou delivered a speech

Joan Valadou expressed in his speech that it was the dedication and foresight of academic institutions from both China and France that led to the success of this project, which was signed under the witness of the Prime Ministers of both countries. Both China and France have a profound historical connection in the field of arts. Pioneers in the arts such as Xu Beihong and Lin Fengmian from the Central Academy of Fine Arts played a crucial role in bridging cultural and artistic exchanges between China and France. He hopes that students of the Sino-French Institute can follow in the footsteps of these predecessors, seeing France not only as an excellent destination for study but also as a cradle of creation and innovation. He encouraged them to cherish their learning time and become ambassadors and facilitators of cultural and artistic exchanges between China and France. Valadou also expressed that the Consulate General of France in Shanghai will continue to support the development of the Sino-French Institute and provide more learning and exchange platforms for students from China and France.

Alexandre de Navailles, President of KEDGE Business School, delivered a speech

Alexandre de Navailles expressed in his speech that the new campus landscape and high-quality teaching facilities bring great joy, reaffirming the belief that the Sino-French Institute, created through the collaboration between the Central Academy of Fine Arts and KEDGE Business School, is advancing vigorously towards a brilliant future. He encouraged students to become "leaders of change," actively breaking through barriers, refreshing concepts, and daring to lead new societal trends. In the future, KEDGE Business School will continue to work tirelessly with the Central Academy of Fine Arts to build the Sino-French Institute, striving to create a world-class hall of cultural and artistic education.

Yu Ding, the Dean of the Sino-French Institute, presided over the meeting

Gao Hongcheng, a representative of the 2020 class of students at the Sino-French Institute, delivered a speech on behalf of the students

Secretary Gao Hong, Consul General Wang Du, President Navailles, and students engaged in a discussion, expressing the hope that everyone will excel in their professional knowledge and serve as ambassadors for artistic and cultural exchanges between China and France.

Visiting the campus

Group photo of the guests