Katoch meets her French Counterpart H.E. Mme Aurelie

Smt. Chandresh Kumari Katoch meets her French Counterpart H.E. Mme Aurelie Filippetti in Paris
Minister of Culture of India, Smt. Chandresh Kumari Katoch, met today in Paris, Minister of Culture and Communication of France, H.E. Mme Aurelie Filippetti. She is a on two-day official visit to France, as a part of her 3-nation tour to Europe, including the United Kingdom and Austria.

While stressing the existing strong cultural bonds between India and France, Indian Minister of Culture called for greater effort to create mutual awareness and understanding about Indian and French cultures among the youth, through associating them with cultural events and encouraging youth exchanges. Minister of Culture and Communication of France informed that French universities and other educational institutions have now been allowed to offer academic courses in English language, which should encourage Indian students choose France as their destination. She also welcomed India’s decision to hold the second edition of ‘Namaste France’ during the first half of 2015 and promised to provide all the assistance.

Indian Minister of Culture thanked her French counterpart for special focus being given to India in various film festival in France, including Cannes Film Festival for celebrating the 100th Anniversary of Indian Cinema. The latter also extended her support for celebration of the 100th Birth Anniversary of eminent painter, Amrita Shergil, who had studied and lived in France. She welcomed the idea of encouraging celebration of Indian festival in France by Indian community and expressed her interest in participating in these festivals.

The two Ministers also reviewed the cooperation between India and France under the Cultural Exchange Programme, which was signed in Delhi in February, 2013, during the visit of President Francois Hollande to India, including cooperation in the area of museums. They agreed that cultural exchanges also help promote tourism and educational exchanges.

This was their second meeting this year. The French Minister of Culture and Communication had accompanied President Hollande during his visit to India on 14-15 February, 2013, and had met her Indian counterpart.