My Memory of China | French teacher: I fall in love with China thanks to its inclusiveness, friendliness

(ECNS) -- 2024 marks the 75th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China. Fleur Chabaille-Wang, a French associate professor at Beijing Foreign Studies University, shared her unique bond with China in an exclusive interview with China News network, saying that she fell in love with China at first sight during her first visit in 2010.

“Chinese people are very inclusive, friendly, and kind,” she remarked. Being a foreigner, she's always found someone willing to lend a helping hand when she encounters challenges.

Wang mentioned some inconveniences at work due to the language barrier, but her Chinese colleagues kindly helped her with administrative tasks at the university. She remarked that Chinese people are so welcoming to foreigners, and she feels very happy living in China.

Since settling in Beijing in 2017, she has genuinely felt that China is safe, with good environment and more job opportunities. “Chinese people live in harmony,” she said.

Wang has witnessed significant progress in China over the past decade. In her view, Chinese people are wholeheartedly dedicated to striving for a better future and working hard to achieve their dreams. She deeply admires their unwavering spirit.

She praised the idea of telling China’s story well to the world, believing that it facilitates a deeper understanding of China among people around the world.

She observed that many people in France are unaware of the significant changes in China and still cling to impressions from the 1970s. To bridge this gap, she often shares her personal experiences in China with her French friends, telling them what China is really like.

She believes that the people of China and France have naturally drawn to, respected, and influenced each other due to their unique cultures. To promote cultural exchange between them, it’s important to go beyond language barriers and delve into a comprehensive understanding of each other's national conditions, political systems, economic development, and cultural characteristics, she noted.

As an associate professor, Wang feels a sense of responsibility to cultivate her students for contributing to Sino-French friendship. So, she designs her curriculum each semester to include a wealth of content related to the politics, society, and education of both nations, allowing students to gain a deep insight of Sino-French civilization and to discern the nuances of their thought.

This year also marks the 60th anniversary of the establishment of China-France diplomatic relations. Wang expresses her heartfelt wishes for the continued flourishing of cultural exchanges between the two countries for another hundred years.