On May 25th, Yichang city witnessed the opening ceremony of “2017 Yichang French Week ” , and those who attended the ceremony were Zhou Zhengying, vice mayor of municipal government, Ma Tianning, consul general of the consulate general of France in Wuhan, Kediwen, cultural attaché, Fanning, New Aquitaine regional representative in China and several representatives of foreign enterprises.

　　Ma Tianning introduced the cooperation between France and Yichang and its prospect, saying that “Yichang French Week” was of cultural advantage as well as economic and trade meaning. He wished that the public would pay more and more attention to French culture and tourism, increasing economic and trade contract. What’s more, he invited Yichang citizens to take part in French consulate’s annual event--“My French dream” award quiz by following consul general’s Weibo@马天宁法国(Ma Tianning, France) and playing by the rules to win generous awards even including trip ticket to France.

　　Zhou Zhengying expressed her congratulations to the event. She said that the friendly contracts between France and Yichang over so many years had formed a deep friendship between French people and Yichang citizens. ”French week” by consulate general at the first time not only demonstrated the friendly contracts between France and Yichang, but also expressed consul general, Ma Tianning’s concern and support for Yichang in these years. This event is significant to Yichang’s economic and cultural development. In the future, Yichang will enhance the cooperation with France in tourism, economy and trade, agricultural and sideline products, pushing their contract into a new phase.

　　“Yichang French Week” is one of the activities of “Festival Croisements”, which is a regular cultural exchange activity launched by China and France in2006 and now it is not only the biggest foreign cultural festival in China but also the biggest French cultural festival outside France. It has been held in many big cities before, such as Chongqing, Shanghai and Shenzhen.

　　“Yichang French Week” is the first time for consulate general of France in Wuhan to hold “French Week” in its jurisdictions (Hubei, Hunan, Jiangxi). It mainly includes Sino-French co-produced shadow puppetry, wine tasting and master class, Renaissance clothing and props exhibition, France and Aquitaine tourism photo exhibition and tourism promotion. (Reporter: Pi Yajie, Xue Beibei, trainee reporter: He Guanying)