It had been 74 years since Jean Marc Nicole had returned to the city of his birth on Feb 27.
By a strange twist of fate, Jean Marc was arriving in Zhanjiang, not to relive long feint and forgotten memories, but to promote economic and cultural exchanges between his current home of Nice, France and the Guangdong city.
Jean Marc Nicole (R) tastes tea with his friends at the Guangzhou Bay Folk Arts Museum. [Photo by Zhang Fengfeng/gdzjdaily.com.cn]
The former French labor minister was born in Zhanjiang, formally Kwangcho Wan (literally "Guangzhou Bay") in 1940, at a time when the area was a leased territory of the French government. It remained that way until in 1945 when it was returned to China.
The son of a French military surgeon, Jean Marc remembers little of the time he spent as a child in Zhanjiang but speaks of the seeds of friendship being planted in him back then.
Jean Marc's role upon his return is that of a friendship ambassador on behalf of the Nice Commission of National Merit Association, of which he is secretary.
The Zhanjiang government welcomes Jean Marc Nicole from France after his first return journey on Feb 27. [Photo/Zhanjiang.gov.cn]
After being given a tour of old towns and experiencing local customs Jean Marc said, "I am touched by the beautiful scenery and people's enthusiasm in the city." He added that it is very encouraging to see the old architecture of that period preserved so well.
As a part of his duties, Jean Marc delivered a letter from Nice mayor Philippe Pradal which revealed plans for an exhibition to be held in the southern French city exploring the history of Guangzhou Bay as well as the achievements of modern Zhanjiang.
Jean Marc (L) hopes Zhanjiang Mayor Wang Zhongbing (R) can play an important role in promoting exchanges between the Guangdong city and France.
Jean Marc expressed his hope that Zhanjiang Mayor Wang Zhongbing could open up more communication channels with France to create more opportunities in tourism, environmental protection and city construction.
