Committed to the development of China-France comic industry and education, to provide an international exchange platform for Chinese comic industry, under the instruction of Jilin Education Department, Consulate General of France in Shenyang and Jilin Animation Institute jointly hosted the “2016 China France Comics Forum”. The forum lasted from 13^th of June to 15^th of June.

Leaders and Experts Attended the Opening Ceremony

“2016 China France Comics Forum” is also called “2016 La Fête des Bulles”, which is one of the events in the “2016 Festival Croisements”. “Festival Croisements” is a cultural exchange activity that takes place every year. It is jointly organized by the French Embassy in China and the Institute of France in China. This year is the 11^th year of the Festival. It aims at promoting the cultural exchange and communication of China and France through various of activities including visual art and stage performance. This year’s “Festival Croisements” spreads out to 30 cities, 45 projects and 150 activities covering visual art, theater drama, music, film, dance and books, etc.

ZHANG Baijun, Vice Chairman of Jilin Provincial Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference, Director of the Education Department of Jilin Province delivering a speech

Marc LAMY, Consul General of French Consulate-General in Shenyang delivering a speech

HU Ying, member of the Party Group at Foreign and Overseas Chinese Affairs Office of the People’s Government of Jilin Province, Vice President of the Jilin Provincial People’s Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries delivering a speech

ZHENG Liguo, Chairman and President of Jilin Animation Institute delivering a speech as the host

The Opening Ceremony was hosted by LIU Xin, Vice Chairman and Vice President of Jilin Animation Institute

The opening ceremony of the forum was hosted by LIU Xin, Vice Chairman and Vice President of Jilin Animation Institute. She expressed a warm welcome to the guests and introduced the leaders and experts attending the forum. Then in the speech delivered by Marc LAMY, Consul General of French Consulate-General in Shenyang, he said that China and France, Jilin Animation Institute and French Consulate-General in Shenyang have a long-term cooperation in the field of comics. We shall expend and deepen our cooperation in the future.He also pointed out that Jilin Animation Institute has a international reputation in animation, comics and game, and it is a place filled with creativity.In the end, he expressed his appreciation for the effort we made to promote cultural exchange and the support we provided for the cultural exchange activities.

After Marc LAMY, ZHANG Baijun, Vice Chairman of Jilin Provincial Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference, Director of the Education Department of Jilin Province delivered a speech. He said that since the establishment of “the Strategy of Building a Powerful Province Through Higher Education” , the education institutes in Jilin province have been actively promoting the international exchange and cooperation. He also pointed out that Jilin Animation Institute is the biggest independent animation university and features unique characteristics. The forum is an important means for JAI to integrate into the mainstream culture as well as a developing opportunity for comic industry in Jilin province. He believes the forum will promote the development of the industry, enhance the communication between China and France, and initiate the cultural cooperation of those two countries.

HU Ying, member of the Party Group at Foreign and Overseas Chinese Affairs Office of the People’s Government of Jilin Province, Vice President of the Jilin Provincial People’s Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries delivered a speech.She pointed out that comic industry is an important part of the cultural industry with a broad developing prospect. Comic industry satisfies the teenagers’ increasing cultural demand and promotes the development of relevant industries. The forum serves as a drive to the international cultural exchange.

ZHENG Liguo, Chairman and President of Jilin Animation Institute delivered the last speech to close the opening ceremony. In the speech, he said that Jilin Animation Institute is a university aiming at cultivating talents in creative industry. For all these years, JAI has established cooperation with nearly 100 universities from more than 20 countries. JAI is the first university in China that has Comics Department. Nowadays, the emerging cultural creative industry has released a broad space for the development of comic industry. He hopes that in the future, we can try to use new marketing strategies in multiple levels and directions to shape a vision for the future development.

ZHENG Liguo, Chairman and President of Jilin Animation Institute in the interview

Jin Cheng, Yankai, Niejun and other comic artists have all shared their ideas and experiences.The forum also invited French novelist Philippe Ôtié and Chinese cartoonist Li Kunwu to discuss the integration of cross-border cultural creativity. They used to be partners and jointly created popular comic novels.The Belgian cartoonist François Schuiten and his partner French writer Benoît Peeters shared their experiences in creating their works. Cartoonist Zhan Jingyao and Zhang Yuanying talked about the differences in education and market trends in comic industry between mainland China and Taiwan area. Xue Yanping,the Director of Animation Director Department of Animation and Digital Arts in  Communication University of China delivered a speech on“the Art and Industry in the Creation of Chinese Comics”.

In the discussion section, Philippe Ôtié, the French novelist and Li Kunwu, the Executive Director of the Association of News and Cartoon were invited to talk about the integration of cross culture creativity.François Schuiten,Benoît Peeters, Zhan Jingyao and Zhang Yuanying have all attended the discussion. After that, Xue Yanping, the Director of Aimation Directing Office, Animation and Digital Art Department in Communication Univeristy of China gave a speech about the art and industry in Chinese comics creation.

As the host of this forum, Jilin Animation Institute has founded 7 studios that combine teaching with practice. We stick to the idea of “freshmen choose majors, senior students choose careers”and have cultivated many comic talents.

“2016 China France Comics Forum”has opened a door to connect the Comics in Jilin Province with the world. Through the forum, we have enhanced the communication between the comic artists from France, Belgium and China. We will further communicate on how to better cultivate comic talents and try to establish a platform for the international cultural exchange and bring the brand of Jilin Animation to the world.