CHENGDU, China: Surrounded by security, French President Emmanuel Macron made his way through crowds of young fans, screaming with excitement, at a university in southern China on Friday, receiving a greeting more reminiscent of a rock star than a politician.
Hundreds of students and residents lined up outside a university sports hall in Chengdu to welcome Macron, some waiting for hours for the resident’s arrival.
“I’m delighted and honored that he has come to Chengdu and our Sichuan University,” 21-year-old material sciences student Ye Maoxuan said, describing the French leader as “charming.”
With a wall of students’ cellphone cameras fixed on the French head of state, the buzz around Macron’s visit quickly spread via social media.
He had already caused a stir after he was filmed on a surprise jog in a local park on Friday morning.
