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Month: January 2025

Monaco celebrates 30th anniversary of relations with China at elegant Chinese New Year gala

by: Cassandra Tanti
29/01/2025

The Principality of Monaco marked the 30th anniversary of its diplomatic ties with China during a grand Chinese New Year gala at the Fairmont Monte-Carlo. The event blended cultural traditions, networking, and high-level diplomacy, drawing distinguished guests from Monaco and China.

The gala, hosted by the Monaco-China Association and Monaco Dragon Prestige with support from Monaco’s Embassy in China, commemorated three decades of friendship and cooperation between the two nations. Held in the Grand Salon of the Fairmont, the evening unfolded with a cocktail reception featuring cultural activities such as Chinese calligraphy, followed by a traditional Dragon Dance, live music, and popular Chinese songs sung by a bilingual choir from Collège Charles III. Performances from the AI Danse Paris troupe were also a highlight.

Performances of the Sheng and Guzhen – traditional Chinese musical instruments – setting the festive tone. Photo by Monaco Life

In her opening remarks, Monaco’s Ambassador to China, Marie-Pascale Boisson, reflected on the strength of Monaco and China’s 30-year partnership. After offering condolences for the recent passing of Monaco’s Minister of State, Didier Guillaume, she celebrated the ties forged over three decades. “Tonight, thanks to the Monaco-China Association, we are celebrating not only the Chinese New Year but also a significant milestone in our bilateral relations. Over 30 years, we have fostered strong cultural, economic, and diplomatic ties,” she said.

The gala coincided with the beginning of the Year of the Snake, which symbolises wisdom, patience, and renewal in Chinese astrology. Ambassador Boisson highlighted key achievements of 2024, including the revival of tourism between Monaco and China, visa exemptions for Monegasque travelers, and cultural collaborations such as the Monte-Carlo Ballet’s performance in Shanghai. She called the Year of the Snake an opportunity for both nations to build upon their shared commitment to excellence and innovation.

Shi Yuli, acting Consul General of the People’s Republic of China in Marseille. Photo by Monaco Life

Shi Yuli, acting Consul General of the People’s Republic of China in Marseille, also addressed the audience, describing the relationship between the two nations as a “bridge of friendship that unites two vastly different cultures.” He spoke about the significance of the Spring Festival, recently recognised by UNESCO as an Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity, and commended the flourishing economic, cultural, and environmental collaborations between Monaco and China. “Over the past three decades, trade volumes between our countries have multiplied fifteenfold, and cultural exchanges have brought our people closer together. The Year of the Snake brings hope and renewal, promising further growth in our partnership,” his message read.

Performers from the AI Danse Paris. Photo by Monaco Life

The evening also included gifts for attendees, such as a stunning snake necklace by APM Monaco and a Cubata cigar.

Stay tuned for Monaco Life’s Editor in Chief Cassandra Tanti’s interview with Monaco’s Ambassador to China Marie-Pascale Boisson. 

See more in our Instagram video below… 

Monaco Life is produced by real multi-media journalists writing original content. See more in our free newsletter, follow our Podcasts on Spotify, and check us out on Threads,  Facebook,  Instagram,  LinkedIn and Tik Tok.

 

Main photo credit: Cassandra Tanti, Monaco Life

 

Explained: What is France’s new sustainability index all about?

by: Stephanie Horsman
29/01/2025

In a move toward enhancing product sustainability, France has introduced a new sustainability index for electrical and electronic products. Building on the existing repairability index, this measure aims to provide consumers with a clearer understanding of product durability.

Over the course of 2025, a new label will become part of the packaging of certain electrical and electronic products. Called the sustainability index, it builds on the repairability index introduced for smartphones, laptops, televisions, lawnmowers, and window washing machines in 2021, and later extended in 2022 to include top-loading washing machines, dishwashers, vacuum cleaners, and high-pressure cleaners.

The new index will add to the previous criteria and include a scoring system to give a clear picture of a product’s sustainability rating. Scored from zero to 10, it measures two critical aspects: repairability and reliability. Repairability evaluates factors like the accessibility of technical documentation, ease of disassembly, and the availability and cost of spare parts. Reliability, on the other hand, considers resistance to wear and tear, ease of maintenance, warranty duration, and overall quality. Together, these criteria paint a comprehensive picture of a product’s longevity and environmental impact.

The scoring system gives products a mark out of 10 that is determined by its repairability and reliability. Photo source: service-public.fr

To aid buyers, the score will be prominently displayed on product shelves and online, accompanied by a colour-coded pictogram for quick recognition. A green pictogram signifies a top-tier score between eight and 10, while descending scores transition through yellow, orange, red, and dark red for the lowest ratings. For online purchases, the index must be as visible as the product’s price, ensuring ease of access for all buyers.

This sustainability index is rooted in the 2020 Anti-Waste and Circular Economy Act, reflecting France’s continued commitment to reducing environmental waste.

By equipping consumers with a clear and accessible measure of product durability, France hopes to empower sustainable purchasing decisions and drive manufacturers toward more eco-friendly practices.

Read related:

Solar power overtakes coal in EU energy mix as renewables surge

 

Monaco Life is produced by real multi-media journalists writing original content. See more in our free newsletter, follow our Podcasts on Spotify, and check us out on Threads,  Facebook,  Instagram,  LinkedIn and Tik Tok.

 

Photo credit: Polina Tankilevitch, Pexels

Padel Best Village returning to Monaco in spring with fresh focus on community and collaboration

by: Niki Borisova
28/01/2025

This April, Monaco’s Grimaldi Forum will once again welcome the Padel Best Village event, now in its third edition, having been rebranded from Padel Best Expo for 2025. The upcoming event, which will take place over the weekend of 26th and 27th April, aims to blend sport with business and networking opportunities, while providing a space for fans and players to meet and connect.

Padel Best Village, formerly known as Padel Best Expo, is adopting a new name and a new focus for 2025.

At the top of the agenda is the aim to establish a stronger sense of community and collaboration among the young sport’s players and supporters.

Padel is already a popular sport in Monaco, embraced by athletes from diverse backgrounds. It is also booming in France, with over 719 courts now installed, surpassing Italy’s tally for the first time. The sport boasts 700,000 players in France and has experienced more than 30% market growth in the past year.

One of the highlights of the weekend in Monaco will be the Givova Five Padel Cup, featuring the Italy-France Padel Cup. Eight clubs from each nation will compete, showcasing top talent and further strengthening ties between their sporting communities. Visitors can also look forward to appearances from notable names in the world of sport, such as Dario Marcolin, Jimmy Ghione, and football legends Frank De Boer, Nelson Dida and Fabio Quagliarella.

Beatrice Preziosi, Project Manager of Padel Best Village, tells Monaco Life, “We are grateful for the support of the International Federations, which have helped elevate this sport to an international level. Last year’s edition was a success, and we are excited to bring a prestigious event with high-level content to Monaco once again.”

Meanwhile, Gianmarco Nardi from the event’s PR team adds, “This event has the potential to become a real institution in Monaco. The extraordinary growth of padel in France reflects its potential, and the Givova Five Padel Cup will once again be a standout feature of the weekend.”

Tickets are priced at €25 for a one-day pass and €40 for two days. They are available now at www.montecarloticket.com and www.fnacspectacles.com, and will be listed on www.ticketmaster.com later this week. For more information about the event, click here.

Read related:

Padel Best Expo confirms return to Monaco in April 2025

Monaco Life is produced by real multi-media journalists writing original content. See more in our free newsletter, follow our Podcasts on Spotify, and check us out on Threads,  Facebook,  Instagram,  LinkedIn and Tik Tok.

Photo provided

Visionary Davide Livermore to present bold new take on Wagner’s ‘Das Rheingold’

by: Stephanie Horsman
28/01/2025

A groundbreaking new production of Richard Wagner’s Das Rheingold will be coming to the Opéra de Monte-Carlo in February as visionary director Davide Livermore presents his bold interpretation of this iconic masterpiece, combining innovative visuals with a historically informed musical approach conducted by Gianluca Capuano.

Das Rheingold is one of four pieces in Wagner’s epic Ring Cycle, and chronicles the theft of the Rhine gold by the Nibelung dwarf Alberich. The cursed gold, transformed into a ring, triggers a cycle of greed, betrayal and divine intervention. The story follows the gods Wotan and Loge as they scheme to outwit Alberich and claim the treasure, only to pass its curse on to the giants they seek to pay for building their fortress.

This new staging by Livermore seeks to bring to life Wagner’s mythic tale of gods, giants and accursed treasure by capturing the opera’s grandeur while introducing audiences to a revolutionary sound. Enter Conductor Gianluca Capuano, who will be recreating Wagner’s authentic and original sound by using period instruments such as gut strings and early wind instruments, played by Les Musiciens du Prince.

“Our sound will be transparent, maybe more coarse, but radically different from the monumental Wagner we have been used to during the past hundred years,” Capuano explains.

The singers are also set to explore Wagner’s original vocal demands, blending declamation and cantabile lines in a way that reflects the composer’s initial ideas.

It all makes for an incredibly groundbreaking series of world premiere performances, blending the best of old and new. There will be four separate opportunities to witness the spectacle on 19th, 21st, 23rd and 25th February. The opening night will be a gala performance.

Tickets for Das Rheingold are now available here.

Read related:

Global competition for young talents to perform at Monaco’s iconic opera house

Monaco Life is produced by real multi-media journalists writing original content. See more in our free newsletter, follow our Podcasts on Spotify, and check us out on Threads,  Facebook,  Instagram,  LinkedIn and Tik Tok.

Photo credit: Eugenio Pini / Opéra de Monte-Carlo

Monaco defines anti-corruption priorities and sets 2025 timeline for GRECO reforms

by: Cassandra Tanti
28/01/2025

Amid Monaco’s drive to enhance its anti-corruption measures, the newly established High-Level Steering Committee has convened during a strategic meeting to adopt a detailed roadmap for implementing reforms throughout 2025.

Presided over by Isabelle Berro-Amadei, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation and interim Minister of State, the meeting on 24th January aimed to address recommendations issued by the Group of States against Corruption (GRECO) during its fifth evaluation cycle. These recommendations highlight the need for increased transparency and accountability, particularly within Monaco’s executive leadership and law enforcement agencies.

Key outcomes of the session in January included the formal adoption of a dashboard that outlines specific measures tailored to Monaco’s unique institutional framework, alongside a detailed implementation timetable for 2025. The plan forms part of the government’s commitment to aligning with international anti-corruption standards while ensuring that proposed changes remain practical and effective for the Principality.

The GRECO report, published in July 2024, emphasised areas requiring improvement, including enhanced oversight of senior officials and stronger mechanisms to prevent unethical practices. The High-Level Steering Committee, initially proposed in December 2024, will play a central role in overseeing these reforms and ensuring their timely execution.

Experts Marc Segonds and Gilles Duteil, instrumental in developing Monaco’s anti-corruption strategies, have been working closely with officials to refine these policies.

Monaco Life is produced by real multi-media journalists writing original content. See more in our free newsletter, follow our Podcasts on Spotify, and check us out on Threads,  Facebook,  Instagram,  LinkedIn and Tik Tok. 

Main photo: The 24th January 2025 meeting, source: Government Communications Department

 

Global leaders tackle plastic pollution at Monaco-led event in Davos

by: Cassandra Tanti
28/01/2025

A high-level discussion on solutions to the global plastic pollution crisis took place in Davos on 24th January, organised by the Prince Albert II of Monaco Foundation in partnership with UnaTerra. The breakfast meeting, held alongside the World Economic Forum, brought together 30 international leaders from major corporations to exchange ideas and explore innovative approaches to reducing plastic waste.

Plastic pollution has become one of the most pressing environmental threats, with devastating consequences for marine ecosystems and human health. Despite widespread awareness and global initiatives, progress remains slow, and international negotiations on the issue have largely stagnated. In response, the event highlighted the critical role that private sector leaders, civil society, and innovators must play in driving practical and sustainable solutions.

The breakfast meeting brought together 30 international leaders from major corporations. Photo source: FPA2

Prince Albert II of Monaco, who opened the event titled ‘Bridging Perspectives: Advancing Solutions to Plastic Management’, called for decisive action and economic commitment to confront the issue. “Economic investment is indispensable in resolving the monumental challenge posed by plastic. At the same time, this investment represents a significant opportunity for innovation, development, and progress,” he said. “This is a vital threat, but we are not powerless in facing it. That is why we are here: to act, to mobilise the right resources, and to bring together the right people. Because the tools and the willpower exist.”

The discussion centred on pivotal questions, including the barriers businesses face when transitioning to circular economy models, promising innovations in plastic waste management, and how collaboration across sectors can scale up effective strategies. Attendees shared insights and best practices, with a focus on fostering partnerships to drive meaningful change.

The event was part of the Foundation’s broader mission to support the development of a sustainable blue economy, addressing critical threats to the world’s oceans. It also followed a series of other engagements during Davos week, including the Monaco House event on 23rd January, organised by the Government’s Attractiveness Department to promote Monaco’s initiatives in ocean conservation and sustainable development.

Monaco Life is produced by real multi-media journalists writing original content. See more in our free newsletter, follow our Podcasts on Spotify, and check us out on Threads,  Facebook,  Instagram,  LinkedIn and Tik Tok.

Main photo source: FPA12