Coutances, Normandy, France - March 2024 (CGTN - No access Chinese mainland)
1. Various of people celebrating French-Chinese cultural festival with special activities, performances
2. Red decorations featuring Chinese cultural elements on street
3. SOUNDBITE (French) Xia Leperchois, director and founder, French-Chinese cultural festival in Normandy (starting with shot 2/ending with shots 4-5):
"Why (did I create) this festival? Because we wanted to give residents in Normandy the opportunity to discover China. My name is Xia Leperchois. I am of Chinese origin. We have organized more than 20 events during the festival that lasted almost a month."
4. Leperchois walking on street
5. Sign of local high school
6. Various of students watching film "The Chinese Workers During the Great War"
7.  SOUNDBITE (French) Karim Houfaid, director, "The Chinese Workers During the Great War" (starting with shot 6/ending with shot 8):
"Friendship is demonstrated through actions. Friendship cannot be decreed; it must be lived. China is a great culture and a great civilization. An immense civilization. We can learn a lot from China." 
8. Various of students watching film
9. SOUNDBITE (French) Margot, student (full name not given/starting with shot 8):
"This film has not only made me discover the history of China, but also a part of our own."
10. SOUNDBITE (French) Timeo, student (full name not given/ending with shot 11):
"I like it a lot. The story is well explained in this film. So, now I am going to be able to tell it to my family and friends. Tell them that the Chinese were here to help France during the war." 
11. Various of decorations featuring Chinese cultural elements
12. SOUNDBITE (French) Xia Leperchois, director and founder, French-Chinese cultural festival in Normandy (starting with shot 11/ending with shots 13-15):
"Thanks to this festival, the residents of Coutances have been able to discover other aspects of China beyond Chinese food. For example, they have been able to watch exhibitions of Chinese painting, and attending Chinese calligraphy workshops."
13. Various of banners advertising French-Chinese cultural festival 
14. Various of French people visiting Chinese art exhibition
15. Various of French people attending Chinese calligraphy workshop
16. Various of French people attending Chinese embroidery workshop
17. SOUNDBITE (French) Nathalie, visitor (full name not given) (partially overlaid with shot 18):
"This is important in small cities like ours. So, it's very interesting and very enriching."
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18. Visitors experiencing Chinese embroidery
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19. Various of Chinese embroidery works on display
20. Various of grand parade in progress, visitors
21. SOUNDBITE (French) Xia Leperchois, director and founder, French-Chinese cultural festival in Normandy:
"Now, the grand parade is about to begin, marking the end of the almost month-long festival."
22. Various of grand parade in progress, performers, visitors
23. SOUNDBITE (French) visitor (name not given):
"This is my first time and I think it's great. The Chinese culture is impressive." 
24. Various of grand parade in progress, performers, visitors 
25. SOUNDBITE (French) visitor (name not given):
"I live nearby, and this is my first time here. It's formidable." 
26. Grand parade in progress
27. Various of musical, dance performances featuring Chinese cultural elements in progress
28. SOUNDBITE (French) Christine Bernabeu, Honorary President, French-Chinese cultural festival in Normandy in 2024 (partially overlaid with shot 29):
"To love each other, you must first get to know each other. Thanks to this festival, people in Normandy are getting to know China a little better. And the Chinese, who have come in large numbers to participate in the festivities, can also get to know Normandy a little better."
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29.  Performers on stage
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30. Various of performers on stage, answering curtain call
UPSOUND (French) Xia Leperchois, director and founder, French-Chinese cultural festival in Normandy:
"Long live French-Chinese friendship. And long live Normandy."
31. Screen showing sign of third French-Chinese cultural festival in Normandy

The third French-Chinese cultural festival entitled "A breeze from China blows over Normandy" was held in Coutances in northwest France last month, offering locals a feast of authentic Chinese culture.

2024 marks the 60th anniversary of the establishment of China-France diplomatic ties, and also the 80th anniversary of the D-Day landings along the Normandy coast during World War II.

Mother-of-five Xia Leperchois, the director and founder of the festival, is of Chinese origin and has been living in France for 33 years. Considering herself a good example of French-Chinese friendship, Leperchois told CGTN about her experiences in initiating the festival.

"Why (did I create) this festival? Because we wanted to give residents in Normandy the opportunity to discover China," she said, adding that more than 20 events were organized during the festival which lasted almost one month.

One of the festival events was the screening at a local high school of a documentary about Chinese workers in France during the World War I, a little-known story both in France and in China.

"Friendship is demonstrated through actions. Friendship cannot be decreed; it must be lived. China is a great culture and a great civilization. An immense civilization. We can learn a lot from China," said Karim Houfaid, director of the film which was well received by the students at the school.

"This film has not only made me discover the history of China, but also a part of our own," said Margot, a high-school student.

"I like it a lot. The story is well explained in this film. So, now I am going to be able to tell it to my family and friends. Tell them that the Chinese were here to help France during the war," said Timeo, another student.

Locals were also invited to visit exhibitions of Chinese paintings and attend workshops featuring Chinese calligraphy and embroidery.

Leperchois said the festival has helped the residents of Coutances "discover other aspects of China beyond Chinese food, " and allowed the Chinese to "get to know Normandy a little better."

"This is important in small cities like ours. So, it's very interesting and very enriching," said Nathalie, who was enjoying herself at an embroidery workshop.

To the resounding beat of drums and with stunning performances by Chinese lion dancers, a grand parade was staged in late March to mark the end of the festival, drawing big crowds to the streets of this small Normandy town.

"This is my first time and I think it's great. The Chinese culture is impressive," said a visitor.

"I live nearby, and this is my first time here. It's formidable," said another visitor.

Organizers said the festival has played an important role in promoting understandings between the people of the two countries.

"To love each other, you must first get to know each other. Thanks to this festival, people in Normandy are getting to know China a little better. And the Chinese, who have come in large numbers to participate in the festivities, can also get to know Normandy a little better," said Christine Bernabeu, honorary president of the Festival in 2024.