On November 18th 2025, the “Welcome Ceremony for President of Sciences Po," hosted by the Sciences Po Shanghai Alumni, was successfully held. This was Mr. Luis Vassy’s first visit to Shanghai since assuming the presidency of Sciences Po. On the day of the event, the Consul General of France in Shanghai and his team, representatives from the Fujian Shipyard Culture “Friends of Shipbuilding” International Exchange Center, as well as nearly one hundred alumni attended, joined together for this special welcome reception.

President Vassy introduced Sciences Po's recent advancements in educational philosophy, international collaboration, and academic development. He emphasized that the university will continue to strengthen ties with the Chinese alumni community, support alumni activities, and promote the further development of Sino-French educational cooperation.

Zhou Hewei, Vice President of Sciences Po Alumni in China, reviewed the Shanghai Alumni Association's achievements in promoting cultural exchanges between China and France since its establishment. She also introduced symbolic projects such as the "Ma Jianzhong Memorial Seat" and highlighted all the work undertaken by the Shanghai Alumni Association to showcase the century-long history of Sciences Po alumni.

Mr. Joan Vladou, French Consul General in Shanghai, affirmed the important role of Sciences Po and its Shanghai Alumni Association in nurturing Sino-French cultural relations from diplomatic and cultural perspectives. He stated that the cultural and educational activities consistently organized by the alumni association in Shanghai have played a positive role in promoting exchanges between China and France.

Yang Mingxin, representative of the “Friends of Shipbuilding” International Exchange Center of Fujian Shipyard Culture, offered a historical perspective on the role of Fujian Shipyard Culture in modern Chinese education and the history of overseas study. He revisited the background of Fujian Shipyard Culture sending the first group of Chinese students to study at Sciences Po Paris in 1877. He also highlighted the influence of early students such as Ma Jianzhong and Chen Jitong, echoing the historical significance brought by the presence of their descendants at the event that evening.

Recreating a Century of History: The Legacy of Sciences Po Alumni

On the evening of this event, the century-long history of Sciences Po alumni came to life vividly.

 With the presence of representatives from the “Friends of Shipbuilding” International Exchange Center of Fujian Shipyard Culture, the stories of two historic Sciences Po alumni—Ma Jianzhong and Chen Jitong—reemerged vividly.

In 1877, under the sponsorship of Fujian Shipyard Culture, a group of young Chinese students traveled to study at Sciences Po Paris, pioneering China’s early endeavors in modern education and systematic study of European institutions. Their long-lasting contributions in linguistics, diplomacy, and cultural exchange had a profound impact and laid the early foundations for cross-cultural interaction between China and France. 

Mr. Chen Jitong Qing Dynasty diplomat and translator      Mr. Ma Jianzhong Qing Dynasty diplomat, linguist, and reform thinker

The descendants of the two historic alumni—Mr. Ma Tianruo and Mrs. Chen Shuqing—also attended the event, joining everyone in revisiting the academic journeys and cultural explorations of their ancestors.

To welcome President Vassy, commemorative gifts were prepared by the organizers.
The “Friends of Shipbuilding” International Exchange Center of Fujian Shipyard Culture presented President Vassy with an ink wash painting entitled Luoxing Pagoda.

The Sciences Po Shanghai Alumni Association, together with Mr. Ma Tianruo, presented President Vassy with Ma Shi Wen Tong, the work of Ma Jianzhong—the first Chinese graduate of Sciences Po in 1879.

The Chen Jitong family brought his influential works and precious manuscripts: The Chinese People (Chinese translation) and facsimiles of Mr. Chen Jitong's manuscripts, Xue Jia Yin and calligraphy works.

A century of history was once again brought to life under the witness of the descendants, and continues to be carried forward and developed through today’s exchanges.

A Written History in Century: The First Exhibition of Sciences Po Alumni Publications

This year marks the 150th anniversary of the founding of the Sciences Po Alumni Association. For the first time, the Shanghai Alumni Association organized and systematically presented the themed book exhibition, A History in Writing: A Century of Publications by Sciences Po Alumni in China and France.

The exhibition carefully brought together 76 publications over 148 years, authored by 39 Sciences Po alumni and scholars. These works form a rich coverage across history, politics, diplomacy, linguistics, social sciences, and contemporary international relations.

From Ma Jianzhong's 1879 work Ma Shi Wen Tong to the newly published The Long Road to Peace translated this week by alumni Zong Huawei, the ideas and transcripts left by Sciences Po alumni in Sino-French exchanges have not only woven an intellectual tapestry spanning time and culture but also stand as a collective testament to their enduring contributions to this bilateral dialogue.

Group Photo of Alumni Authors with President Vassy

Attendees paused before the display panels, deeply moved by the intellectual power carried within these works spanning a century.

Mr. Ma Tianruo guided President Vassy through the Book Exhibition

Contemporary Sciences Po Alumni: Diverse Innovation and Impact

In addition to the historical and intellectual displays, the evening also highlighted the diverse vitality of Sciences Po alumni in contemporary Chinese society.

Projects from the beauty brand HerBeast, the accessibility initiative "QiTu Wuzhang" supporting people with disabilities, ACEWORKS, the public welfare project JOBB, and Epermarket were all showcased at the event.

Amid relaxing yet lively exchanges, alumni discussed cross-cultural collaboration, entrepreneurial experiences, industry futures, and the creation of social value. Each alumnus’s story expanded understanding of the Sciences Po spirit and showcased the growing real-world impact of Sciences Po in China.

A Century of Alumni Bonds: Continuation in Shanghai

That evening was both a mixture of history and the present, and a cross-cultural dialogue looking into the future. From the students sent by Fujian Shipyard Culture to study abroad, to today’s Sciences Po alumni active presence in diverse fields; from Ma Jianzhong's work Ma Shi Wen Tong to contemporary multilingual publications; from reflecting on history to innovative collaborations in the present—the exchanges between China and France have never ceased, and will continue to grow.

The successful realization of this event would not have been possible without the dedicated support of the alumni association team, numerous alumni, partner organizations, and volunteers. It is through their joint efforts that a story spanning over a century was once again brought to life in Shanghai, and continues to extend to the next generation.

Acknowledgments

• Event Support Team: Mr. Wang Jiaqi, Mrs. Yu Fang, Mrs. Wang Jiahang, Mrs. Wang Yunyi, Mrs. Xu Jiayu, as well as Mrs. Wang Luqing for her excellent hosting, and all the volunteers on site.

President Luis Vassy with the Executive team of Sciences Po Shanghai Alumni

• Book Exhibition Support: Mrs. Liu Huayin, Mr. Benoît Vermander, Mr. Jin Zheyuan, Mr. Zhang Yaning, Mr. Wang Kun, Mrs. Ma Aifang, and Mrs. Shen Fei for lending their collections; as well as Mrs. Deng Lingzhi, Mrs. Zhang Jingjie, Mr. Cao Mingrui, and Mrs. Kang Yuqiao for their support, which made the book exhibition a complete success.
• Alumni Sponsorship: Mrs. Deng Lingzhi and the ACEworks team for their efforts in the design and setup of the event; Mrs. Sun Hang and the SOL H team for assisting QiTu Wuzhang with their exhibition booth; Mrs. He Yi and her brand HerBeast for their sponsorship.

May the echoes of history, the power of culture, and the bonds between people continue to serve as a warm foundation for Sino-French exchanges in the years to come.