Chinese billionaire gives France vacation to 6,400 workers

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NICE, France (AP) — The billionaire chief executive of the Chinese conglomerate Tiens has given 6,400 of his best salespeople a vacation that started in Paris and ended with a parade on France's Cote d'Azur.

CEO Li Jinyuan said he was celebrating the company's 20th anniversary by rewarding his staff and aimed for the world record in spelling out a phrase in human bodies.

As their vacation wound down, the employees on Friday massed on the coastal promenade in Nice and, dressed in identical sky blue hats and T-shirts, spelled out the words "Tiens' dream is Nice in the Cote d'Azur."

Jinyuan was greeted by France's foreign affairs minister, Laurent Fabius, mid-week in Paris.

French media estimated the trip's cost at 13-20 million euros ($14.5-$22.3 million).