A French delegation headed by Dr. Bernard Belloc, permanent advisor to the President of the French Republic Nicolas Sarkozy for higher education and research visited Institut Pasteur of Shanghai (IPS) on Nov.17, accompanied by Mr. Thierry Mathou, the French Consul General in Shanghai.

Prof. SUN Bing, co-director of IPS welcomed the delegation on the presence of Prof. Zhiyuan Zhu, vice president of Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) Shanghai Branch.

Prof. SUN Bing gave a brief introduction of IPS on research progress, talent recruitment, national and international cooperation, education. Prof. ZHU Zhiyuan , on behalf of CAS re-affirmed the continuous support to IPS. He said that IPS is not only a research institute built by the joint effort of CAS, Shanghai Municipal Government and Institut Pasteur, but also the symbol of the Sino-French strategic partnership. He particularly thanked Prof. Vincent Deubel, the ex-Director General for his remarkable contribution to the establishment of IPS.

Dr. Belloc is an old friend of IPS when he was advisor for science and technology to the French Embassy in China before 2007. This was his first visit to IPS after he filled in the position as advisor to the French President for higher education and research. He was impressed by the achievement of IPS since his last visit, and commended IPS’s effort in basic research towards application. Dr. Belloc reiterated that the French Government attached high attention to the Sino-French cooperation on public health. Institut Pasteur is a unique institute on public health in France. He hoped that, with the support of Chinese and French governments, IPS would become a unique joint institute to contribute to the prevention and control of infectious diseases.

Mr. Stephan, director general for research and innovation, Ministry of Research and Highter Education, wished IPS to further contribute to talent training by combining tradition and modern education system.

Dr. Belloc and the delegation visited laboratories after the meeting.