China-France meeting of minds calls for continued globalization

Participants in a program that aims to promote exchanges between young people in China and France and to help solidify the two countries' partnership have spoken in favor of continuing globalization and of the importance of people-to-people ties between the two countries.

The sixth annual Young Leaders Program, jointly organized by the Chinese People's Institute of Foreign Affairs and the France China Foundation, was held under the theme "The Megalopolis of the Future" in Chongqing and Beijing from Oct 11 to 15. It attracted 44 participants.

Chinese Vice-President Wang Qishan met the delegates of the program on Oct 15 in Beijing and said: "All of human society has many common opportunities, risks and challenges, and no country is immune from them. Economic globalization is an irresistible trend."

He suggested that both sides improve mutual understanding, dialogue and collaboration to realize the blueprint for growing Sino-French relations that Chinese President Xi Jinping and French President Emmanuel Macron agreed on when they met in Beijing in January.

He also called on young people from both countries to increase exchanges to help build a more dynamic and sustainable China-France relationship.

Last year Macron met the participants of the fifth Young Leaders Program in Paris, and in 2016 the then Chinese vice-president Li Yuanchao met participants of the fourth program in Beijing. Edouard Philippe, now the French prime minister, used to be a participant of the program.

The delegates said the program is an important communication platform, and they are committed to promoting collaboration, bilateral ties and world peace.

Emmanuel Lenain, a founding member of the program, said the relationship between France and China is "extraordinarily fruitful".

"Between our governments, there are a lot of exchanges. But we feel that now, to go further, it's crucial to foster people-to-people exchanges."

Strong and durable relations between countries can only be based on a common cultural understanding, he said.

"By putting together well-talented and open-minded people we are convinced we can eliminate misunderstandings, promote positive ideas and bring about new projects. This is all the more important as our world is confronted with bursts of populism and protectionism."

Cao Jiahan, assistant researcher at the Shanghai Institute of International Studies, said: "Today we are facing a severe setback of globalization that has benefited human beings for centuries. Deglobalization has created enormous spillover effects on the rest of the world.

"At this critical juncture, safeguarding key pillars of globalization, such as free trade and multilateralism is an urgent task for all global leaders and particularly young leaders. One meaningful and constructive approach in this regard is to strengthen people-to-people, exchanges especially between young leaders."

Pascal Gentil, co-founder of the organization New Concept Sport and twice Olympic medalist in taekwondo, agreed with Cao, and said free trade, multilateralism and globalization are instruments not just for economic well-being, but also for peace and democratization.

"The prosperous evolution of populations can easily be eroded if the foundations of peace and stability are threatened. What better instrument than diplomacy can there be for promoting objectives of peace and reconciling national interests? I have chosen, in my own modest way, to promote peace through sport with Peace and Sport Foundation's activities in China.

"Sport is a universal language. Everybody understands and accepts the same game rules. Sport is an extraordinary tool to foster intercommunity dialogue, social cohesion and durable peace between nations."

Guo Feng, chairman of Shanghai-based Shifeng Asset Management Co, called for more investment in innovative companies to help them achieve further globalization and provide more high-quality products worldwide.

"Globalization has boomed over the past few decades… . Healthy international cooperation has kept prices lower for consumers and helped keep production high. However, in the long term the process will not be smooth, and globalization comes in ebbs and flows."

Trade protectionism would eventually be detrimental to people everywhere, Guo said.

Wang Hongwei, dean and professor at the School of Life Sciences at Tsinghua University in Beijing, said self-centered conservatism and protectionism are detrimental to human civilization.

"Closer international exchanges and cooperation are a necessity for the existence and further prosperity of human civilization. China, France and all others that support the development of a community with a shared future should not hesitate to carry out wider and deeper political, economic, technical, cultural and educational cooperation in a coordinated way. They must also foster more sustainable and balanced development and promote world peace.

"Young leaders must develop wide global horizons, higher technical sensitivity and a concept of history that takes the entire human species into account in meeting future challenges."

Zheng Tengfei, director of the curriculum center at Shanghai Little Bridge School, said: "As educators, what we can do is give children enough information for them to see the big trends and the reasons and mechanisms behind them, to ensure that there are more rational people so that when they become the backbone of society there are fewer irrational decisions."

Stephane Rinderknech, chief executive of L'Oréal China, said there is a significant move toward a new structure of economic globalization.

"We believe in collaboration and inclusiveness to build a community with shared values for people around the world."

In globalization, China and France are seeking solutions to common challenges that benefit everybody, he said, and L'Oréal "has chosen a unique strategy: universalization that means globalization that captures, understands and respects differences".

"We keep pioneering in the industry through all-round innovation to integrate local inspiration on a global scale with the mission of bringing beauty to all."

Wu Yanjie, general manager of Chongqing Pai Sen Bai Orange Juice Co Ltd, said China has had a tradition of free trade since ancient times with the Silk Road, and today's Belt and Road Initiative will provide various investment platforms for those involved, strongly promoting the development of free trade, multilateralism and globalization.

Gao Can, a violinist and associate professor at the Central Conservatory of Music, took part in the program, his first appearance at the event.

Young leaders from different regions and businesses all have "splendid and unique" ideas, and he has learned much through exchanges, he said

Since 2013 the annual Young Leaders Program has been held alternately in France and China. One of the organizers, the France China Foundation, was an idea of the former French prime minister Jean-Pierre Raffarin.