Foochow Arsenal

Photo shows the Foochow Arsenal cultural area. (Photo provided by the Museum of Foochow Arsenal 1866) At the mouth of the Minjiang River in southeast China's Fujian province, the water flows calmly without ripples. Nestled by the Luoxing Pagoda along the river bank, the Fujian Navy Yard, also known as Foochow Arsenal, stands as a precious industrial and cultural heritage site founded 158 years ago and a witness to China-France exchanges that have spanned over 100 years. On May 5, Chinese President Xi Jinping arrived in Paris for a state visit to France. On the same day, a signed article by President Xi titled "Carrying Forward the Spirit that Guided the Establishment of China-France Diplomatic Relations, Working Together for Global Peace and Development" was published in French media Le Figaro. Xi said, "Over 150 years ago, French nationals helped China found its Fujian Navy Yard and the Fujian Naval Academy." Transformed from a former shipbuilding warehouse of the Foochow Arsenal, the Museum of Foochow Arsenal 1866, has now become a "treasure trove" preserving the memories of the shipyard. On the right side of an exhibition hall on the first floor of the museum stands a French machine that is almost…