Prof. Francioni in Xiamen Academy

This summer we had the pleasure to welcome Prof. Francesco Francioni here at our Academy. Apart from being Professor Emeritus of international law at the European University Institute, Florence and Professor of international law at LUISS University, Rome, he has also been a member of the Italian delegation in numerous international negotiations and diplomatic conferences, as well as President of the UNESCO World Heritage Committee. It is my great honor to be the volunteer to assist and accompany him during this summer programme.

I was kind of nervous the first time I saw Prof. Francioni, because I thought he was a serious man. But he was so gracious and friendly just like a grandpa. He is quite easy to get along with. His kindness and volubility can always make the conversation relaxing and meaningful. I truly learned a lot from him.

His lectures focused on the cultural dimension in international law, including the protection of the world cultural heritage, development of intangible cultural heritage, the importance of culture in a country and so on. His speech was extremely well-organized and comprehensive, so that students could easily get the key point. He was willing to interact with students and share their views and comments in class. Besides, there were so many students discussing questions with him after class, but he seemed that he'd never get tired.

In his spare time, he enjoyed talking with us about some interesting topics. He often gave us sincere advice on our study and life. During the visit, he was energetic and interested in many styles of the architecture and traditional Chinese culture. Moreover, he was quite familiar with the background of the styles, and sometimes he'd become the tour-guide, introducing the information to us. He has a surprisingly good voice and he showed us three beautiful songs at the party. We really enjoyed his fantastic performance.

It was really a delightful time for me to assist Pro. Francioni. Within the past two weeks, I am deeply impressed by his knowledge and kindness. That will be a wonderful and unforgettable experience.

Report by Li Yixuan; Photo by Zhong-Ding-Wen Studio & Li Yixuan