French Riviera honors actor Liu Ye
Chinese actor Liu Ye and his wife. [File photo]
The French Riviera has named Chinese actor Liu Ye as its ambassador, aiming to encourage more Chinese holidaymakers to tour the South of France.
Appearing along with Meryl Streep, Bruce Willis and Jackie Chan at the event, Liu first shot to fame for his performance in the low-budget film Postmen in the Mountains.
France received more than 2 million Chinese visitors last year, with around 90,000 travelling to the Riviera, a 50 percent increase.
The Telegraph reports local officials hope the figure can be boosted to 200,000 a year by 2020 through this kind of campaign.
The 38-year-old actor married a Frenchwoman from Nice in 2009, which makes him a living embodiment of China's good relationship with France.
Liu was honored with "Chevalier" medals in the Order of Arts and Letters, an honor handed out by the French government, in 2013.
Related:
