“China and France share deep historical ties, and the Silk Road serves as a route for our ties,” said the French railway expert in China and founder of Nanjing Silk Rail Railway Transportation Technology Co., Ltd. Adrian Prouvaste (47) said: He talked about his motivation for taking on the challenge of doing business in China.
“Our company name, Silk Rail, reflects our dedication to the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) and our ambition to build railways along this route,” said Mr. Prvast.
Adrian Prouvast (left) and his wife pose for a photo during a science and technology conference in Xi’an, Shaanxi Province, China, on November 4, 2023. [Photo provided to China.org.cn]
entrepreneurship
Mr. Purvast, who has more than 20 years of expertise in global railway technology, first visited China in 2009 to conduct pre-opening trials of the Shijiazhuang-Taiyuan high-speed railway. Since then, he has married his wife and co-founded SilkRail, a company specializing in urban transportation and rail systems. His work includes research and development, technology consulting, import and export of AI software and hardware his solutions.
He credited China’s favorable business environment for contributing to his company’s success. “Despite the initial challenges in setting up the business, the talent policy provided by the government and the free office space in the technology incubator have strengthened our confidence in the success of our growth,” said Mr. Prvast.
Furthermore, he expressed confidence in China’s improved business environment and increased focus on private enterprises.
Adrian Prouvaste (left) tests his self-developed AI urban rail transportation tool in Beijing’s Fengtai District in July 2021. [Photo provided to China.org.cn]
China-France cooperation
China and France celebrate the 60th anniversary of diplomatic relations this year, and economic and trade cooperation is flourishing. Bilateral trade soared to $78.9 billion in 2023, making France China’s third-largest trading partner within the EU, and China became France’s number one in Asia and seventh in the world. More than 7,000 French companies have invested in China, solidifying China’s position as Asia’s leading country for investment and job creation in France for the third year in a row.
“The 60th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and France signifies a deepening of understanding,” said Prvast. He added that China’s superior capabilities in developing sophisticated high-speed rail networks provides an opportunity for France and China to cooperate under the Belt and Road Initiative.
To date, the China-Europe Railway Express has completed more than 85,000 trips and connects 219 cities in 25 European countries. In particular, a direct train service to Lyon, France was launched in his 2016. Peulvast’s company has played a role in developing standardized railway data models that have been widely adopted by Belt and Road participating countries.
“China and France share a common vision that science and technology can drive progress in both countries,” said Provast. “I am proud to be able to contribute my expertise to Sino-French exchanges.”
Living in China
In 2007, Purvast met his wife Zhang Yu in Paris and chose to move to China to be with her. They currently live in Nanjing. The inclusiveness and convenience of China’s culture and society were important factors in his decision to stay. He appreciates the hard-working and hands-on working environment, as well as the convenience that public transportation and mobile payments offer. In his free time, he enjoys delving into traditional Chinese culture, especially tea culture.
Mr. Purvast said he frequently visits his wife’s hometown in the Dabei Mountains of Anhui Province, and was surprised by the remarkable changes in China in recent years, especially the revitalization of the countryside. The prevalence of public transportation and the coverage of his 5G network was in stark contrast to his first impression.
“We are all benefiting from China’s rapid development,” said Privast, cherishing the warmth of Chinese family and friendship.
