The Economic Observer is teaming up with the French Embassy to host a series of public events to discuss the concept of soft power. The second forum will take place in Beijing on July 3, 2013. This will be the second of five forums that will be held around the country from May to October this year. If you missed the first forum, you can view highlights here.

Host: The French Embassy in China, Institut Français, Economic Observer, Economic Observer Online
Co-Host: French D'Alembert Foundation
Media Partners: Xinhuanet (新华网), Xinhua micro-blog (新华微博), Xinhuanet forum(发展论坛), Sohu (搜狐评论)
Website: Official website (Chinese/French only)

If you're interested in attending the forum, please send your name, a contact number and the name of your company or place of study to english@eeo.com.cn before noon on Monday, July 1.

If you speak Chinese you can also contact:

Zhao Yan (赵艳)
Tel: 010-52271366-1234
E-mail: zhaoyan@eeo.com.cn

Sino-French Forum on Soft Power - Session 2

Topic: Communication of Culture and Language
Date: July 3, 2013, 2pm-5:30pm
Location: Lecture Hall, French Embassy in Beijing
Language: Chinese/French - simultaneous interpretation (No English translation available)

14:30-14:45: Introduction
14:45-15:05: Xavier Darcos “Literary influence”
15:10-15:30: Ceng Laide “Calligraphy and Chinese Culture”
15:35-15:55: Alain Lombard: “Influence of Museums”
16:00-16:20: Wang Xiaoshuai : “Influence of Moives”
16:25-17:00: Open Discussion

Introduction to Speakers

Xavier Darcos
Xavier Darcos is President of Institut Drançais and Ambassador of France's foreign cultural policy. He is also a former French Minister of Education (2007-2009) and Minister of French Labor and Social Relations, Family and Urban (2009-2010). He was selected French Academic Academicians in June 2013, as France Academicians lifelong spiritual and political secretary.

Alain Lombard
Alain Lombard graduated from École nationale d'administration and is a director of French Musee d’orsay and L'Orangerie. He has worked in various positions in France's Ministry of Culture. He was a coordinator of the Sino-French cultural year from 2002 to 2005.

Wang Xiaoshuai
Wang Xiaoshuai (王小帅) graduated from Beijing Film Academy and is a well-known Chinese director. Wang's film Beijing Bicycle won the Silver Bear Jury Grand Prix at the Berlin Film Festival. In 2011, he produced “11 Followers”, a Sino-French co-production.

Ceng Laide
Ceng Laide (曾来德) is Vice-president of the China National Academy of Painting and Director of Chinese Calligraphers Association.

For more information about the event in French and Chinese, please click here.