Sinologist Joel Bellassen, who recently won the Huilin Cultural Award, explains why he sees a bright future for the language across the globe. Wang Kaihao reports.

A look at this man's WeChat account could lead you to think that he's a Chinese who loves trying out regional cuisines and touring the country to study traditional culture.

But Joel Bellassen - better known by his Chinese name, Bai Lesang - is a French Sinologist and professor of Chinese at the Paris-based National Institute for Oriental Languages and Civilization.