International fun as Nice comes to Ningbo

Nice has come to Ningbo, further boosting the outward-looking city’s international standing and influence and bolstering its competitive and innovative image.

The Ningbo-Nice International Carnival, which began on Friday and run to Wednesday, will usher in a new era for Sino-French relations and the friendship between Nice and Ningbo.

The six-day carnival has been organized by the Ningbo government, and guided by the Nice government, the European Travel Commission, and the Tourism Bureau of Zhejiang Province.

Vice mayor of the French city Rudy Salles said at the opening ceremony that the carnival would bolster the relationship between Nice and Ningbo, China and France.

Like Nice, Ningbo has a harbor city culture, and its art, architecture and hospitality are a major attraction, he said.

In a video hook-up, EU commissioner and special counsellor for the 2018 EUChina Tourism Year, Eric Philippart, said the various exchanges between governments and companies are a major component of the EU-China Tourism Year.

Shanghai Daily, media partner to the carnival, led a group of more than 100 foreign tourists to join in the fun.

With the theme “King of Space,” the carnival featured a float of the same name and 11 others carrying float goddess, a performance by Nice’s famous dance group BAT, and processions showcasing the French people’s taste, flair and creativity.