"As a new beginning of cooperation between SDU and BnF, the signing of the agreement is not only the start of work in sorting and digitizing ancient Chinese books, but it also lays a solid foundation for opening cooperation in other areas in the future," said Zhang, speaking at the meeting.

He believes that the cooperation between SDU and BnF will make a significant contribution to Sino-France humanities exchanges and communication, and become a paradigm of regional cooperation.

"A project on Global Collection and Compilation of Chinese Ancient Books will collect the precious ancient Chinese books scattered around the world," said Racine. "It will strongly promote Chinese studies and the understanding and communication between different cultures around the world."

A project on Global Collection and Compilation of Chinese Ancient Books aims to combine relevant units and experts specializing in Chinese Studies throughout the world to collect and copy precious ancient Chinese books scattered abroad. Meanwhile, the project also plans to select the finest works and translate them into other languages, to promote cultural exchange around the world. After the signing of the agreement, SDU will send a team of experts on Chinese ancient books to BnF to complete the cataloguing of BnF’s collections and copy precious ancient books to allow them to return to our motherland in a digitalized form and provide convenience for Chinese studies experts all over the world.

During their visit, Bruno Racine also made a speech entitled 'The Library Community between Research Infrastructures and E-infrastructures'. The delegation also paid a visit to the Chinese Culture Experience Hall.