Tatarstan President: “We want to make our contribution to relations between Russia and France”

On December 15 at the Kazan Kremlin, Tatarstan President Rustam Minnikhanov met French delegation led by French Ambassador to Russia Jean-Maurice Ripert.

Tatarstan Minister of Education and Science Engel Fattakhov, Minister of Culture Airat Sibagatullin, and rector of Kazan Federal University Ilshat Gafurov took part in the meeting.

“We appreciate the opportunity to cooperate with your country within the framework of Russia-France relations. We regularly exchange delegations, and I have visited your country several times. Representative office of the Republic of Tatarstan in France has been working for 20 years, a French visa center and a French cultural center Alliancе Francaise are working in Kazan. Also, French companies Schneider Electric, Air Liquid, Saint Gobain are successfully working in the republic.

Tatarstan President expressed his interest in cooperation in the sphere of education. Moreover, Tatarstan may be an attractive region for French tourists. However, the constraining factor is that there are no direct flights to France at the moment.

Jean-Maurice Ripert thanked leadership of the republic for the reception. “We are glad to be staying in Kazan. I have worked in Russia for one year only, and I want to see other regions besides Moscow and St. Petersburg,” he said.

Jean-Maurice Ripert stressed that relations with Russia are very important for France notwithstanding current tough period, and they are willing to develop relations between nations, not only officials. He had also talked to Air France CEO about launching new direct flights to Russian cities with over a million dwellers.

The Ambassador also thanked Rustam Minnikhanov for supporting Alliancе Francaise cultural center. He was also glad to note development of inter-university cooperation between Russia and France and suggested expanding this work.

Representatives of French companies working in Tatarstan, - Schneider Electric, Air Liquid, Leroy Merlin, and Decathlon, who took part in the meeting, told about their current work and prospective projects.

Minnikhanov said he supported the presented projects and was sure of their successful implementation.

“We appreciate your visit and we want to make our contribution to relations between Russia and France in this tough period,” Minnikhanov summarized.