From April 10 to April 13, Chen Yuanyuan, Deputy Secretary of the Party Committee of Foreign Language Teaching and Research Press (FLTRP), led a delegation to visit France. During the trip, the FLTRP delegation visited several renowned French publishing institutions and the Cultural Office of the Embassy of the People’s Republic of China in France, while also participating in the Paris Book Festival. Extensive discussions were held on topics such as digital publishing and cultural communication innovation, yielding a series of collaborative achievements.
2025 marks the 20th anniversary of FLTRP’s partnership with French publishing giant Hachette Livre. Since the cooperation in 2005, FLTRP has introduced over 100 high-quality French learning resources from Hachette, covering a wide range of areas such as teaching materials, reference books, and digital products, and successfully created beloved and enduring classics in the Chinese market, including Reflets and Le Nouveau Taxi.
This meeting marks the first face-to-face exchange between the two parties since the pandemic. Chen Yuanyuan shared insights into the latest trends in China’s French-language learning market and the sales performance of collaborative products, emphasizing the need to expand user reach through digital upgrades and continuously enhance the learning experience. Pierre Agasse, director of French Publishing at Hachette Livre FLE, highlighted the company’s digital transformation initiatives and upcoming publishing plans. The two sides engaged in productive discussions on synergizing print and digital publishing, localizing resources, developing graded French readers, and combating piracy. They reached a consensus on strengthening digital resource co-creation and sharing, signaling a new level of collaboration.
During the talks with the Cultural Office of Embassy of the People’s Republic of Chinain France, Chen Yuanyuan introduced the "Global Language Service Platform" project created by Beijing Foreign Studies University, FLTRP’s overseas expansion plans, and the achievements of the "China-themed Editorial Department" in France. The Cultural Office praised FLTRP’s role as a bridge in Sino-French cultural exchanges, providing updates on France’s publishing market and emphasizing that localized content and diversified formats are key to engaging readers.
The FLTRP delegation also visited Clémence Lévy, President of Éditions Charles Moreau (a subsidiary of Société Nouvelle Baudoin), to express deep condolences for the passing of Alain Lévy, former president and a long-term partner of FLTRP. Alain Lévy dedicated himself to advancing Sino-French publishing and cultural exchanges, and in 2017, under his leadership, Société Nouvelle Baudoin partnered with FLTRP to establish the "China-themed Editorial Department" in France. To date, the department has published over 30 titles across multiple series, including Chinese literary classics such as Dream of the Red Chamber (Illustrated Edition), Strange Tales from a Chinese Studio (Illustrated Edition), as well as Insights into Chinese Culture, Key Concepts in Chinese Thought and Culture (covering history, literature, philosophy, and traditional medicine), and 100 Years of the Communist Party of China, released in 2021 to mark the Party’s centenary. For his contributions, Alain Lévy was honored with the 16th Special Book Award of China. Chen Yuanyuan expressed FLTRP’s commitment to deepening cooperation with Éditions Charles Moreau, upholding Alain Lévy’s publishing legacy, and continuing to produce high-quality China-themed books to help Francophone readers better understand Chinese culture and societal development, thereby fostering mutual learning between civilizations.
During the visit, the FLTRP delegation also attended the 2025 Paris Book Festival, with a focus on children’s books, language learning, and China-themed publications, while exploring potential collaborations with international publishers. This trip will further solidify FLTRP’s practical cooperation with French partners, promote international exchanges in digital publishing, strengthen Sino-French cultural ties, and inject new momentum into building a global language service ecosystem and advancing cross-cultural dialogue.
