On December 1, 2025, coinciding with the opening of the 2025 Understanding China International Conference (Guangzhou), a delegation composed of French senator and majority party chairman Thierry Meignen, and deputy mayor Han Bo, followed the invitation of the era of "understanding China" and entered the core area of the millennium commercial capital - Liwan District, Guangzhou. With discussions and exchanges as the link and cultural exploration as the path, they experienced China's historical context and vitality in an immersive way at the Chess Culture National Essence Museum, Thirteen Rows Museum, and Yongqingfang Intangible Cultural Heritage Cultural Block, and continued to write a new chapter for local exchanges between the Chinese and French overseas Chinese communities. At the exchange and symposium held in the New Overseas Talents Reception Hall of Xiguan Chess Academy in Liwan District, Bu Zhiqun, Chairman of the Liwan District Overseas Chinese Federation, was commissioned by the district committee and government to deliver a welcome speech, introducing the commercial, cultural, historical, and industrial overview of Liwan District. He hoped that this visit would serve as an opportunity to strengthen the cooperation links between Liwan and the city of Le Longmenile in cultural education, biomedicine, fashion industry, and other fields. The District Government Office, District Culture, Radio, Tourism and Sports Bureau, and District White Goose Pond Management Committee jointly received the delegation and made detailed introductions to the district's cultural and tourism industry and the development and construction of the White Goose Pond Business District, presenting a vivid practice of "new vitality of the old city" to French guests in a panoramic manner. Senator Meignen gave a comprehensive introduction to the city situation and development achievements of Le Blanc Menelle, and affirmed and appreciated the cultural protection, intangible cultural heritage inheritance, industrial positioning, and openness and inclusiveness of Liwan. Both sides held in-depth consultations on four major topics: cultural heritage protection, urban renewal governance, cross-border trade cooperation, and linkage of cultural resources between the two regions. Holding an exchange and discussion meeting with the delegation from Le Blanc Menelle, France at the Thirteen Rows Museum to understand the origin of the "Maritime Silk Road" as a hometown of overseas Chinese. The prosperous foreign trade scene of the "Emperor Nanku" in the Qing Dynasty is vividly reproduced through precious cultural relics. The delegation stopped between the pottery figurines of the Eastern Han Dynasty and the silk porcelain of the Ming and Qing Dynasties, listening to the historical narrative of the Thirteen Factories in Guangzhou as the only surviving maritime Silk Road under the closed door policy. They learned that this place was once an important hub for Sino French trade and a cultural origin for overseas Chinese living in France. The trade archives preserved in the museum allow guests to understand the historical genes of Liwan as an important carrier area for international trade and communication. The delegation from Le Blanc Menelle, France visited the Thirteen Rows Museum in the Chess Culture and National Essence Hall to understand the contemporary inheritance of "Chinese wisdom". The innovative expression of "technology+tradition" has brought a fresh perspective to the French guests. From the Eastern Han Dynasty chess figurines dating back 1800 years to the imperial Go jar used by Emperor Kangxi, from AI interactive chess games to the spiritual inheritance of surpassing oneself, the delegation experienced the eternal charm of Chinese wisdom among square chessboards. Guests expressed that chess, as a borderless language, is like a bond of friendship between China and France, achieving cultural exchange through playing and communication. The delegation from Le Blanc Menelle, France visited the Chess Culture and National Essence Museum in the Yongqingfang Intangible Cultural Heritage Block to understand the Chinese plan of "revitalizing the old city". Between the blue bricks and black tiles, Yongqing Fang integrates Lingnan residential architecture with intangible cultural heritage inheritance and urban renewal. The delegation visited intangible cultural heritage workshops such as Guangcai, Guangxiu, and Xingshi, witnessing the creative transformation of traditional skills in contemporary life. As a benchmark project for the "New Vitality Leading Area of the Old City", Yongqing Fang's protection and development model allowed guests to understand China's development wisdom of "upholding integrity and innovation" in the process of urbanization, and to feel the contemporary value of intangible cultural heritage as a common wealth of humanity. During the visit of the delegation from Le Blanc Menelle, France to Yongqing Square, the Chinese and French overseas Chinese communities played an irreplaceable role as a bridge. Lin Yao, Vice Chairman of Galen China, and Xu Xiaoou, Executive President of the French Chinese Chamber of Commerce and Industry, and other representatives of overseas Chinese living in France participated throughout the process. They shared their personal experiences of integrating into French society and spreading Chinese culture, and also acted as a bridge for cooperation between the two regions, continuing the excellent tradition of the overseas Chinese community in France in promoting cooperation in various aspects such as China France economic trade, culture and art, science and technology education. The relevant person in charge of Liwan District Committee stated that Liwan is not only a hometown of overseas Chinese, but also an open window. I hope to use the power of the overseas Chinese community to enable the world to understand China's concept of peaceful development and inclusive civilization through this platform. Under the theme of understanding China's era, the exchange between Liwan and local cities in France is shifting from cultural exploration to practical cooperation, from overseas Chinese linkage to people to people connectivity, injecting warm local energy into the construction of a community with a shared future for mankind. (New Society)