The Foochow Arsenal in Fuzhou City of east China's Fujian Province, the best preserved and most complete modern industrial cultural heritage in China, has played a pioneering role in China-France cultural exchanges.
As one of the examples of China-France cooperation, Foochow Arsenal has retained much of its French architecture and industrial design since it was built in 1866. It serves as the cradle of China's modern maritime education. French engineers and craftsmen were hired, and schools for naval construction and apprenticeship were set up.
Chinese President Xi Jinping has attached great importance to cultural preservation and it was evident during his years working in Fujian.
After the Foochow Arsenal was established, rather than directly selling industrial products such as steam engines to China, France exported essential industrial machinery and imparted professional skills to China, said Huang Jinhua, a researcher from the Institute of Foochow Arsenal Culture of China.
"This is a slotting machine brought in from France in 1867. It is a machine that makes machines. At the time, France was not selling industrial products like steam engines directly to China. Instead, they exported critical industrial machines and passed on professional skills to China. This is the strong evidence of China-France cooperation and exchanges," said Huang.
The collaboration with France in the history of the Foochow Arsenal illustrates the cultural assurance of those with lofty ideals and their receptiveness to knowledge, said Chen Yue, president of Mawei Foochow Arsenal Cultural Institute, who also said that it is needed to continue to enhance historical research and safeguarding cultural relics and enhance interactions and mutual learning between civilizations.
"The cooperation with France in the history of Foochow Arsenal is proof of the cultural confidence of those with noble ideas, and their openness to knowledge. French engineers visited China, and Chinese students studied in France. Together, they wrote a story of mutual cooperation and trust. We should carry forward the Foochow Arsenal's spirit of patriotism, science, innovation and striving for strength. Under the guidance of the General Secretary, we will continue to strengthen historical research and cultural relics protection so as to contribute to deepening exchanges and mutual learning among civilizations," said Chen.
Fuzhou plays pioneering role in China-France cultural exchanges
Fuzhou plays pioneering role in China-France cultural exchanges
