On October 8, 2023, WANG Kun from Beijing Foreign Studies University was invited to deliver a lecture on "Sino-French Cultural Exchange and the Development of Sino-French Relations". The lecture was chaired by IICE Associate Professor LIU Min.

Dr. WANG analyzed Sino-French cultural exchanges in three historical stages. He used rich historical materials and vivid examples to narrate the interactions between the two countries in fields such as technology, culture and education. He also discussed the impact of these interactions on bilateral relations and the lives of both nations' citizens. Dr. WANG particularly emphasized the significance of the movement of Chinese students working in France to support their studies and how cultural exchanges have fostered mutual understanding between the two peoples. He pointed out that 2024 will mark the 60th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and France. The development of a healthy and stable relationship between the two countries has always been at the forefront of China's relations with Western nations, and the strategic importance of this relationship in the international landscape will become increasingly prominent.

Dr. WANG Kun is the Vice Dean of the School of French Language and Culture at Beijing Foreign Studies University. He also serves as the Director of the Sino-French Cultural and Academic Exchange Research Center under the Ministry of Education, and he is a permanent judge for the Fu Lei Translation and Publishing Award presented by the French Embassy. Dr. WANG has received the Order of Arts and Letters (Ordre des Arts et des Lettres) from the French government. He has more than ten years of teaching experience, primarily focusing on courses related to French society and culture. His research interests include French society and Sino-French cultural exchange.