Award winner Fan Zeng (2nd, L) poses for a photo with Wu Jianmin (1st, L), Christine Cayol (2nd, R) and Wang Zhenyao at Beijing Yishu 8. Photos provided to Chinaculture.org

A special award ceremony honoring 50 personalities who have made great contributions to the Sino-French cultural exchanges was held at Beijing Yishu 8 on Jan 25.

Wu Jianmin, former Chinese ambassador to France, said at the event: "We have to further explore these 50 people's stories instead of just awarding them. Their stories can be told to the public, as a way to promote cultural exchanges between China and France."

Jacques Pellet, minister-counselor of the French Embassy in China, praised Yishu 8's efforts in strengthening Sino-French ties, and said that the 50 figures are "vital forces" in enhancing friendship between the two countries.

Chen Zhu, vice-chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress and a former minister of health, who was also one of the award winners, said: "As prize winners, we will further make efforts to promote Sino-French communications and take forward the next 50 years' friendship between the two countries."

Some of the award winners and sponsors such as Chinese artist Fan Zeng, entrepreneur Yu Zhiqiang, as well as Wang Zhenyao, director of the China Philanthropy Research Institute, and Christine Cayol, founder of Yishu 8, were present at the ceremony.

The "50 years, 50 people" event was initiated by the China Philanthropy Research Institute and Beijing Yishu 8 at the end of 2013, as a celebration for the 50th anniversary of the Sino-French ties in 2014.

The event selected 50 figures, 25 from China and 25 from France, based on their contributions to art and culture, and their influence on communication between the two cultures.

Household names from China, such as nuclear expert Zan Yunlong, actress Gong Li, artist Fan Zeng, entrepreneur Cai Mingpo, and from France, such as architect Paul Andreu, actress Sophie Marceau, fashion designer Pierre Cardin, were honored.

The whole list was announced on Oct 28, 2014, and a grand award ceremony staged in Paris in December. The ceremony in Beijing concluded the year-long event, and marks a new start for the Sino-French dialogue in the coming years.