China and France share a robust economic partnership with immense potential for collaboration, highlighted by the central city of Wuhan which is among the cities with the highest concentration of French investments in China.
As early as 1905, the number of French companies in Wuhan had already reached 20. And by the end of the 1980s, the largest cooperation project between China and France, the Dongfeng Peugeot Citroen Automobile Company, was also established in Wuhan.
Ten years ago, the City of Wuhan converted 39-square-kilometer ponds and fields, equivalent to one-third of the area of Paris, into a new green and low carbon demonstration base, setting a new standard for urban sustainable development cooperation between the two countries.
When restoring the wetlands, the local government took inspiration from the design concepts of French cities such as Paris and Lyon in terms of drainage, flood prevention, and rainwater recycling. For instance, 100 percent of ground rainwater was collected, purified, and used for urban greening irrigation.
Additionally, a 6-meter-wide, 110-kilometer-long green corridor was constructed along the water. Following ecological restoration, the once wild lake has transformed into a backyard for nearby residents.
In addition to ecological governance, the eco-city also constructed Wuhan's first large-scale centralized distributed energy station. This innovative project utilizes cutting-edge technologies from both China and France to optimize energy management and maximize energy utilization.
"This energy transportation station has the company of Electricity of France deeply involved in its construction, design, and operation. It utilizes advanced technologies from two countries to optimize energy management, including air source heat pumps, rooftop photovoltaic systems, gas triple heating systems, centrifugal refrigerators, gas boiler systems, and other multi-energy complementation. In China’s northern regions, pollution tends to increase as soon as winter arrives, mainly due to heating systems. The implementation of energy stations can effectively address this issue, providing a solution to the environmental impact of winter heating," said Liao Xuan, general manager of Electricity of France, Wuhan.
With an increasingly improved environment that benefits both wildlife and people, more European enterprises, including Accor, EDF and Akwel, and many local startup technology companies have been attracted to this area. In Wuhan, in addition to many French companies and Sino-French cooperation projects, delicious French bakeries and authentic French food can be found at any time.
"Five years ago, we opened this restaurant . I tagged along with my wife to China, but ended up falling head over heels for Wuhan after settling down here for a while. My aim is to bring a taste of real French cuisine to Chinese customers, showcasing that French food is more than just Michelin-starred restaurants . It warms my heart to see locals who've studied in France come in and exclaim, 'Yes, this is the taste I’ve been looking for !'" said Renaud Peyoch, owner of Le Garden French Family Restaurant.
"On weekends, we frequently host French bands to perform and invite guests to our parties. The bands showcase a mix of French and Chinese songs, allowing us to promote cultural exchange through the shared experience of food and music," said Jia Li, owner of Le Garden French Family Restaurant.
With more French people moving to Wuhan to live and more French companies settling here, the distance between China and France is getting closer and closer.