Li Yuping (5th from right), Li Youwei (3rd from right) and Wu Zhong (2nd from left) were awarded the Vienne Provincial Medal. (Image source: The pictures in this article are all taken by Zhou Yilun, a reporter of the European Times)
On April 16, the French provincial government of Vienne held a ceremony to award the Viena Commemorative Medal to the CEO of Wenzhou Nature Group, executive vice president of the Chamber of Commerce of the All-China Federation of Returned Overseas Chinese, director of the China University of Political Science and Law, a part-time professor of the President's Advisory, Li Yuping, president of the Zhejiang Provincial Association for the Promotion of Knowing Culture, Li Youwei, general manager of the Nature Group, and Wu Zhong, a well-known Chinese businessman in France, secretary general of the China-Europe Economic and Cultural Exchange Association, chairman of the French Zhongxing Group, and UNESCO project consultant To thank them for investing in the construction of the international top gastronomic cooking school "Joel Hobohun International Academy" in Montmorillon, in the province of Vienne, to build a bridge for the exchange of gastronomic culture between China and France. At the ceremony, Bruno Bellin, Chairman of the Vienne Provincial Council, personally presented commemorative medals to Li Yuping, Li Youwei and Wu Zhong. Jean-Pierre Raffarin, former Prime Minister of France and Deputy President of the Senate, Ms. Valélie Dorgy, First Vice-President of the Province of Vienne, Ms. Marie-Christina Docla, Governor of the Province of Vienne, Senator and Adviser to the Provincial President on Cultural Affairs, Guillaume Drucé, Vice-President of the Provincial Assembly of Vienne, responsible for foreign relations, major projects and European Funds, Mayor of Montmorillon and President of the Community of Montmorillon communities, and French Chef Joel Hobhuhun (jo.l Robuchon partner Guy Jobs and other guests attended the medal awarding ceremony.
At the ceremony of awarding the medal, former French Prime Minister and Senator Raffarin delivered a speech expressing gratitude to Li Yuping, Li Youwei and Wu Zhong. Raffarin praised Li Yuping as an outstanding representative of Chinese businessmen. He believes that "usually people have the impression that businessmen are only concerned with making money, but Li Yuping has his own unique views and pursuits in culture, history and humanities." He is sincere and friendly, reasonable and deserves the respect of all. Raffarin is also very grateful to Wu Zhong, who said that in order to promote sino-French cooperation, Wu Zhong has been consulting and coordinating in the middle, and it is through his role as a bridge that this project has been realized. He was very impressed.
Raffarin addressed.
Then, The President of the Provincial Council of Vienne, Bruno Belling, delivered a speech in which he said that the Provincial Government of Vienne attaches great importance to the "Joel Hobhu-Hungarian International Academy", an international top gastronomic cooking school construction project. Therefore, the Provincial Government of Vienne has decided to award Li Yuping, Li Youwei and Wu Zhong the Viena Provincial Medal, on behalf of the Provincial Government of Vienne Province, which will be close to Li Yuping, Li Youwei and Wu Zhong, and welcome their arrival at any time.
Finally, ms. Marie-Christina Docla, Governor of the Province of Vienne, said that the project "Joel Hobhu-Hungarian International Academy" heralds the further internationalization of French gastronomic culture, especially the academy will host students from all over the world, which will contribute to the promotion of French gastronomic culture. The establishment of the academy adds a sparkle to the French culinary school and the gastronomic culture. In addition, the project will stimulate regional economic development and bring new hope to the eurozone economy. That is why the provincial government of Vienne attaches so much importance to this project. In March this year, the French government opened a green channel for this project to solve the administrative formalities encountered in the project. This project will echo other cultural heritage and tourist attractions in montmorillon, greatly enhancing the visibility of the province of Vienne and becoming the pride of the province.
After receiving the medal, Mr. Li Youwei expressed his gratitude to the provincial government of Vienne for its strong support for the project. He hopes that the culinary institute will cultivate more and more professionals in the catering industry and build a bridge for Sino-French gastronomic exchanges.
Li Yuping (3rd from left), Li Youwei (6th from left), Raffarin (1st from left) and other guests read the plan of the "Joel Haubun-Hungarian International Academy" in the church of the "House of God" monastery.
On the afternoon of the same day, under the leadership of Yves Buru, mayor of Montmorillon, Li Yuping, Li Youwei, Wu Zhong, Raffarin and others visited the monastery of the famous "House of God", a famous local tangible cultural heritage site, which will be transformed into the "Joel Hobhun International College". After the visit, inside the monastery's church, Yves Blu also awarded Li Yuping, Li Youwei and Wu Zhong the City of Montmorillon Medal.
The international top gastronomic culinary school "Joel Hobo-Hungarian International Academy" is named after the French chef Joel Hobo-Hungarian, who has received the most Michelin stars in the world, and is chaired by himself. The school is scheduled to start operations at the end of 2017 with a total investment of 65 million euros (excluding tax), including real estate, renovation works, interior decoration and upfront costs for project start-up, all invested by the investment team led by Li Yuping, Li Youwei and Wu Zhong. According to Wu Zhong, the total area of the college is 10,000 square meters, including: 20 classrooms, 19 open kitchen laboratories with advanced equipment, a multimedia multi-functional ladder classroom for online teaching, and a vegetable garden for students. In addition to training chefs, the academy will also open a restaurant and an app-based luxury hotel for the high-end tourism market.
(Editor: Hibiscus)