China-France cultural exchange festival to celebrate 60 years of diplomatic ties

As part of the 18th edition of Festival Croisements, a series of cultural and artistic exchange events between China and France will be held throughout the year in Southwest China, French officials said.

Launched in 2006, the annual Festival Croisements is the largest French cultural event outside of France and the largest foreign cultural festival in China.

Nicolas Pillerel, minister counselor for culture, education and scientific affairs of the French embassy in China, said this year's event is particularly special, since 2024 marks the 60th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties between France and China. It will run from April to December, featuring more than 400 activities in over 30 cities.

"The event will facilitate more connections and collaborations between the artists and institutions in the two countries. More importantly, it will provide an opportunity for the general audience to discover, or rediscover, French culture," he said.

Pillerel said the southwestern region plays an important role in Sino-French cultural and artistic exchanges.

"This year's event will continue to explore new forms of collaboration in the region, especially in the fields of visual arts and photography."

One of the highlights is an immersive experiential art project called "Horizon of Khufu", which will be presented at the TMP Immersive Expedition Center-Chengdu, he said.

Produced by French studio Emissive, the project offers a virtual reality expedition that takes the person into a magical universe at the time of the pyramids 4,500 years ago.

Guillaume Delvallee, consul general of France in Chengdu, said the activities in the southwestern region will include visual arts, live performances, contemporary music, classical music, cinema and immersive experiences.

The exhibition Chengdu is My Home, to be held at Shuangliu District Museum of Fine Arts in Chengdu from June 11 to July 11, will display 20 drawings by French artist Emilie Seto, which she created during her one-month stay in Chengdu last year. These drawings depict the urban landscapes and interesting everyday scenes she captured in the city.

The live performances will include the musical drama Mozart, L'Opera Rock that portrays the legendary life of Mozart, a new Chinese version of the drama Les Miserables based on Victor Hugo's novel of the same name, and a break dance performance that showcases the charm of the new sport at the Paris Olympics.

Another highlight is Fete de la Musique, or World Music Day in English, which will be held free of charge in Kunming, Yunnan province, on June 14 and in Chengdu on June 21, said Delvallee.

"These art projects are carried out by artists from both France and China, which will further enhance long-term exchanges between the two countries," Delvallee said.