On November 24, 2018, a grand ceremony was held at Asia Europe Business School, an institution jointly operated by East China Normal University and emlyon business school. The ceremony was presided over by Professor. Tugrul ATAMER, Vice Dean of emlyon business school. At the ceremony, emlyon business school conferred the Honorary Doctorate Degree on Shanghai Vice Mayor Chen Qun. Professor Bernard BELLETANTE, Dean of emlyon business school; Mr. Axel CRUAU, French Consul General in Shanghai and Professor Qian Xuhong, President of East China Normal University attended the ceremony and made remarks. Over 50 guests attended the ceremony, including representatives from Shanghai Municipal Government, officials from Municipality of Minhang District Shanghai, and management members from emlyon business school, East China Normal University as well as Shanghai Zizhu High-tech Zone (Group) Co., Ltd .

Dean Bernard BELLETANTE started the ceremony by recognizing that Dr. Chen Qun, as President of East China Normal University, has made every effort to continuously strengthen the strategic cooperation between emlyon business school and East China Normal University in international exchanges, academic research and cultivation of professionals. Dr. Chen Qun is one of the initiators in the two institutions’ collaboration in founding the Asia Europe Business School in 2015. He always inspires new ideas for educational cooperation and facilitates cultural exchanges between China and France. In recognition of his remarkable contributions in academic, management and political fields, emlyon business school decided to confer the Honorary Doctorate Degree on Dr. Chen Qun.

Dean Bernard BELLETANTE presented Dr. Chen Qun the certificate of doctorate degree. Professor Wang Hua, Dean of emlyon business school Asia and French Dean of Asia Europe Business School and Professor He Jiaxun, Chinese Dean of Asia Europe Business School jointly presented a souvenir to Dr. Chen Qun on behalf of the Asia Europe Business School.

In his acceptance speech, Dr. Chen Qun noted that it was a great honor to receive the degree. He expressed hopes that the two institutions will continue to cultivate entrepreneurs and multi-disciplinary professionals together for the Belt and Road Initiative, further explore the path of dialogue, collaboration and shared prosperity in the 21st century, both in culture and in business, between the East and the West, and further promote people-to-people and cultural exchanges between China and France.