As part of Prime Minister Edouard Philippe’s official visit to China from June 22 to 25, 2018 (Shenzhen, Shanghai, and Beijing), a large academic and scientific delegation led by Frédérique Vidal, Minister of Higher Education, Research, and Innovation, visited Shanghai University and UTSEUS in particular.

Accompanied by leaders of France’s largest research organizations (Mr. Antoine Petit, president of the CNRS; Mr. Yves Lévy, president of Inserm; etc.) as well as university presidents, the minister met with the president of Shanghai University (SHU), Mr. Jin Donghan, for a formal meeting. The minister then spoke with a group of about twenty Chinese and French students from UTSEUS, who were able to ask her general questions about the organization and resources of exchange programs between France and China, as well as about career prospects following their experience.

Following these meetings, the minister met at UTSEUS with the directors of 10 Franco-Chinese institutes: UTSEUS (UTBM-UTC-UTT), École Centrale de Pékin, the Franco-Chinese Institute at Renmin University of China, École ParisTech Shanghai Jiaotong, NUST/Metz School of Engineering, the Joint Institute of Ningbo University and the University of Angers, the Joint Graduate School of Southeast University and Rennes 1, CNAM and Dongguan University, the Alliance Française of Shanghai, and the Franco-Chinese Institute at Tongji University.

The discussion gave the minister a sense of the vitality and diversity of our Franco-Chinese cooperation initiatives.

All participants—UTSEUS students and IFC directors—were invited to join the Prime Minister at the residence of the French Consul General at the end of the day for a gathering with the French community.