In an extraordinary display of cultural diplomacy, Chinese President Xi Jinping has personally responded to a group of French students who expressed their fascination with Chinese language and culture. The correspondence began when more than twenty teenagers from Ecole Internationale PACA in southern France composed a collective letter to President Xi, sharing their enthusiasm for Mandarin studies and their aspiration to visit China.
The students, primarily high schoolers enrolled in Chinese-language courses, initiated the communication after learning about French President Emmanuel Macron’s planned delegation to China. Their teacher, Hu Peixin—the institution’s first Chinese instructor—facilitated the unusual diplomatic outreach that culminated in Thursday’s historic response from Beijing.
President Xi’s reply emphasized China’s welcoming stance toward international youth, explicitly inviting these French students along with their European peers to experience China’s multidimensional reality through educational visits and tourism. The Chinese leader highlighted the growing global significance of Mandarin, noting that by September 2025, 86 nations had integrated Chinese into their national curricula, with over 200 million international learners worldwide.
Seventeen-year-old Isis Dauvillier expressed profound honor at receiving the presidential response, stating, ‘We genuinely wish to witness China’s architectural marvels and cultural sites previously known only through textbooks.’ Despite initial difficulties with character recognition, Dauviviller and her classmates have progressed to reading Chinese news reports, enhancing their historical understanding.
Sixteen-year-old Arnaud Quintas, who began systematic Chinese studies five years ago, anticipates visiting Sichuan’s giant panda reserves and discussing technological advancements with Chinese counterparts. School director Nicolas Debenne described the presidential communication as emotionally overwhelming, emphasizing that ‘as ordinary citizens, we never anticipated correspondence from a president.’
Debenne further articulated the transformative power of language acquisition in building international bridges: ‘When you share a language, communication becomes significantly more effective. This linguistic connection represents a crucial pathway for strengthening Franco-Chinese friendship.’ The school administrator noted that Mandarin studies have not only improved academic performance but also fostered greater awareness of China’s global contributions and research achievements.
Teacher Hu Peixin believes this exchange will become a cherished memory that broadens students’ worldview and boosts their confidence in pursuing global opportunities. The incident reflects deepening bilateral relations and growing European interest in Chinese language acquisition as a tool for enhanced economic, diplomatic, and cultural connectivity.