On April 29, Bruno Racine, President of the Bibliothèque nationale de France (BnF), led a delegation to visit Shandong University (SDU) and with Zhang Rong, President of Shandong University, signed a Cooperation Framework Agreement between Shandong University and the Bibliothèque Nationale de France.

  　During the meeting, Zhang remarked, as a new beginning of the cooperation between SDU and BnF, the signing of the agreement is not only the start of both sides’ cooperative work of sorting and digitizing the Chinese ancient books, but also lays a solid foundation for opening cooperation in other areas in the future.

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

　　Racine said that a project on Global Collection and Compilation of Chinese Ancient Books will collect the precious Chinese ancient books scattered around the world. It will strongly promote Chinese studies as well as 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 Chinese ancient 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 cataloguing of BnF’s collections and copy precious ancient books, to allow these treasures to return to our motherland in 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. In addition, the delegation also visited the Chinese Culture Experience Hall.

　　Written by Jing Zizhao Photoed by Zhang Jianxin