Versailles Castle
Source: Rahma Sophia Rachdi
Mr Jean-Yves le Drian, Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs, will travel to Moscow on 8 September to meet his Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov. This working visit is part of the dialogue that France is intensifying with Russia, in particular on the main international crises. Sergey Lavrov had traveled to Paris on 6 July and Jean-Yves Le Drian had been received in Moscow on 20 June. The exchange will focus on Libya, where Mr. Jean-Yves Le Drian paid a visit on 4 September, and he will share the findings with his interlocutor. The situation in Syria and in particular the establishment of the international contact group to move towards a solution to the Syrian conflict will also be on the agenda. With regard to North Korea, the preparation of the resolution of the Security Council to intensify the pressure on the regime, requested by France and several of its partners, will be addressed. Jean-Yves Le Drian will speak with his counterpart on the stakes of security and stability in Europe, especially the situation in eastern Ukraine, in the continuation of the last exchange in “format Normandie“ of the chiefs State and Government, on 22 August 2017.
Moreover, following the visit to France of President Vladimir Putin on 29 May, the ministers will discuss several bilateral subjects and in particular the establishment of the Franco-Russian Forum of Civil Societies, or "dialogue of Trianon". In keeping with the wish expressed by the French and Russian Presidents, this dialogue will allow young people, economic, cultural, artistic actors and French and Russian intellectuals to get to know each other better in order to overcome possible misunderstandings.
THE DIALOGUE BETWEEEN FRANCE AND RUSSIA IS BOTH OPEN AND DEMANDING ON POLITICAL ISSUES
The dialogue between France and Russia is both open and demanding on political issues. In the economic field, France and Russia remain key partners. French exports to Russia rose again in 2016 (+ 8.3%). France was in 2016, as in 2015, the leading provider of FDI flows. The relaunch of the meetings of the Economic, Financial, Industrial and Commercial Council (CEFIC) allowed for in-depth discussions on the main issues in the bilateral economic relationship.-------------------------------
In the field of culture, the relations between France and Russia are dense as evidenced by the exhibitions Icons of modern art - The Shchukin collection at the Louis Vuitton Foundation in Paris last winter, Saint Louis and the relics from Sainte-Chapelle to the Kremlin Museum in Moscow this spring, or Pierre le Grand, a Tsar in France, originally organized to celebrate the 300th anniversary of the Tsar's voyage to France in 1717 and the establishment of diplomatic relations between France and Russia. Source French Foreign Affairs Ministry
