The Ricci Dictionary is the largest Chinese-foreign language dictionary in the world. Now fully digitalized, it develops specialized volumes on botanic (already published), law, Chinese medicine, bronze inscriptions, and other branches of knowledge. A not-for-profit endeavor since is origin, 60 years ago, the Ricci project gathers sinologists, entrepreneurs and specialists with a long-term commitment to cultural interaction between China and the West.

The Ricci association's charter states that its goal "is to contribute to the development, updating and distribution of the Grand Ricci and of its data base by:

• - The publication and/or new editions of the dictionary,
• - The publication of a CD-ROM (of the dictionary),
• - The publication of specialized dictionaries."

The Grand Ricci dictionary's paper edition was published in 2001, the CD-ROM, which became a DVD-ROM, has just come off the press in 2010, with two prestigious celebrations in Shanghai Museum on May 11th, 2010 and in Paris Guimet Museum, on September 21st, 2010.

Regularly present in Mainland China, the association organized in 2005 an exhibition within the Year of France in China named "The History of the Grand Ricci: 400 Years of Cultural Exchanges Between China and Europe". This exhibition travelled from Shanghai to Beijing, Hong-Kong and Macao.

As will have been understood, our association is dedicated to the publication of reference dictionaries and the "Ricci label" has become synonymous of the highest quality in Chinese studies and lexicographical research. The dictionaries we publish would not have been published without the association's philanthropic support.

It is to be noted that private sector sponsorships occupy a much greater share of the total than those coming from government-related institutions.

It is thanks to these sponsors, corporations with a strong commitment to China and with the philanthropic goal of advancing human knowledge, that our high-quality projects can see the light of day. These institutions have understood that, as Fr. Yves Raguin, one of the Grand Dictionary's fathers used to say: "To understand China, it is essential to communicate with patience and to go into the depth of heart and mind of its people". One cannot summarize in a better way the goal of the Ricci Association.

Maverlinn provides Ricci Association with long-term support.