China in France Club: ‘Our Two Countries Foster Close Ties Reflected in the ESSEC Ecosystem’

The China in France Club is not only geared towards Chinese students and graduates in France, but also any ESSEC member interested in France-China relations, on an economic or cultural level. We find out more with the Club’s volunteer administrator, Bing Li (EXEC M13).

ESSEC Alumni: What are the facts to know about France-China relations? 

Bing Li: 2024 will mark the 60th anniversary of diplomatic relations between France and China. In fact, France was the first European country to recognise the People’s Republic of China in 1964, under President Charles de Gaulle. In celebration of this anniversary, France will be the guest of honour at the China International Fair for Trade in Services (CIFTIS) and the 7th China International Import Expo (CIIE). Our countries will also celebrate the China-France Year of Culture and Tourism. In 2023, President Emmanuel Macron travelled to China on a state visit, just three years after his previous visit. Another sign of the close ties between our countries is Chinese PM Li Qiang’s choice of France for his first foreign visit following his appointment. 

EA: How do these diplomatic ties materialise on an economic level? 

B. Li: According to the French customs authorities, French exports to China reached €24.1 billion in 2022, thanks in particular to the vibrancy of the agri-food, leather goods, chemical and pharmaceutical sectors. In the same year, imports from China soared by 20.7% to reach €77.7 billion, according to the French Treasury. The volume of activity is also substantial in the services sector: in 2021 France’s trade surplus stood at €6.1 billion, which represented a rise compared with 2020 and 2019, despite the fall in Chinese tourism expenditure in France since the start of the pandemic.

EA: And in terms of investments? 

B. Li: According to the Banque de France, French investment stock in China rose to €32 billion in 2021. In 2020, 2,085 French companies, major groups for the most part, had a foothold in China, employing around 307,000 people (OFATS /Eurostat figures). As Europe’s leading investor in China in terms of the number of companies, France focuses the majority of its investments in coastal provinces and large metropolises, in various sectors (agri-food, industry, transport, urban planning, mass retail and financial services) and via diverse methods (100% French capital or in joint ventures with a Chinese partner). 

EA: What about Chinese investments in France? 

B. Li: According to Banque de France data again, Chinese investment stock in France represented just €3 billion in 2021, i.e. 0.4% of mainland China’s total stock. In the same year, a Business France report listed 53 ongoing Chinese investment projects in France, contributing to the creation or safeguard of 2,169 jobs. Chinese economic players are particularly attracted to the French market for its scale, connections with the rest of Europe and its prestigious brands, in addition to France’s advanced technologies and skilled workforce. This explains why numerous Chinese businesses set up an R&D centre here. 

EA: What role does ESSEC and its community play in this French-Chinese ecosystem? 

B. Li: While ESSEC does not have a campus in China, it was nevertheless among the first French business schools to open a campus in Asia, Singapore to be precise, in 2005. This location has undoubtedly contributed to boosting the School’s presence in China and has facilitated the creation of partnerships between ESSEC and various Chinese universities for exchange programmes and continuing education. 

EA: How many Chinese graduates and students does the ESSEC network currently boast? 

B. Li: On China’s leading social network, WeChat, there are approximately 2,000 Chinese graduates, and we can suppose that around 10% of them remained in France after graduation. 

EA: Is your club geared solely towards Chinese alumni in France? 

B. Li: Part of our mission is to bring together Chinese graduates and students in France, in particular to provide them with access to ESSEC Alumni services. However, we are open to all Chinese-speaking ESSEC members, whether students or graduates. More than 20 % of the members registered on our ESSEC Alumni webpage are not Chinese nationals. Some people are interested in Chinese culture and the country’s economy, some are ex-pats returning from China, and others are seeking to forge work or business ties with China or Chinese partners, etc.

EA: Is the goal of your club to maintain links between Chinese or Chinese-speaking alumni in France and ESSEC members in China? 

B. Li: Absolutely. We work hand in hand with our volunteer counterparts in China to foster exchange and local networking: Matthieu David-Experton (E09), president of the China Chapter and Shanghai Chapter; Xueying Bai (E16), president of the Beijing Chapter; Jonathan Ly (E16), president of the Hong Kong Chapter, and Nan Zhao (MBA 21), president of the Shenzhen Chapter.

EA: What actions do you lead in France?

B. Li: We focus on recreational and convivial events, because there’s more to the network than work! We recently organised afterwork events between graduates and students, a wine and tasting tour in Champagne, and a Chinese-language Climate Fresk, thanks to Qian Xiao (M09) and Jingxiao He (E21). Our next event will take place at the Maison des ESSEC (11 Avenue de Friedland Paris 8^e) on 7 December, with the market research and data management expert Carole Gabay (E92), who has lived outside of France for 16 years, including 10 years in Shanghai. She witnessed the whole pandemic period in China, and will be presenting her book recounting this experience, Planète Chine Zéro Covid, trois ans sur orbite [Planet China Zero Covid: Three Years in Orbit] (in French). 

EA: What links do you have to the rest of the ESSEC ecosystem?

B. Li: We work regularly with other ESSEC Alumni professional clubs, such as the Transition Club and the Finance, Banking & Insurance Club; with the School, notably through our participation in International Week, and with certain student organisations, mainly ESSEC China, through which we present ESSEC Alumni to new BBA and Grande École students every year; or more recently with Melt’ESSEC, who invited us to the Melt’Working evening where international graduates working in France share their career path and experiences with 80 international students hoping to embark on the same path. I also sit on the ESSEC Alumni Administration Board. 

EA: Who are the members of your team?  

B. Li: I’d like to express my thanks to all the volunteers who give their time to keep our club going, and in particular Zhiting Shen (E14), Xiyao Yu (M16), Rui Qi (E19), Jian Luo (MBA 20), Bingqian Guo (M16), Pingping Tian (EXEC M22) and so many others…Don’t hesitate to contact us if you would like to take part!