The opening ceremony of the 12th Franco-Chinese Month of Environment, themed“Horizons bleus, défis verts”in French, was held at the Chinese Research Academy of Environmental Sciences (CRAES) in Beijing on September 22, 2025. The ceremony brought together approximately 120 participants, including Mr. Bertrand Lortholary, French Ambassador to China; Dr. Beidou Xi, President of CRAES; Ms. Zhu Zhu, promotion ambassador for the event this year; Mr. Florent Aydalot, Minister Counsellor for Culture, Education and Scientific Affairs of the French Embassy in China; and Ms. Hélène Bekker, French Co-Director of the Alliance Française de Pékin.
President Xi extended a warm welcome to all participants and wished the event a complete success. The Ambassador Lortholary highlighted the latest advancements in environmental protection achieved through scientific research collaboration between China and France and underscored the crucial importance of public participation in environmental conservation efforts. Ms. Zhu Zhu shared her personal experience in adopting eco-friendly practices in daily life and called on the public to take joint action to protect the planet. Subsequently, Mr. Florent Aydalot outlined the diverse lineup of activities scheduled for this year’s event.
Launched in 2014 and led by the French Embassy in China, the Franco-Chinese Month of the Environment is the only interdisciplinary event focused on environmental issues in China by a foreign embassy. It has played a significant role in raising public environmental awareness and deepening Chinese-French environmental cooperation. The theme“Horizons bleus, défis verts”this year highlights the interdependence between marine and terrestrial ecosystems. Throughout this month-long project, a wide range of public activities will be held nationwide, including exhibitions, competitions, lectures and discussions, educational workshops, themed painting, film screenings, and concerts.. (For details, please see the link below).
