President Iohannis to pay official visit to France next week

President Klaus Iohannis will be paying an official visit to the French Republic between 27 and 28 November, occasioned by the inauguration of the Romanian-France Cultural Season, which is aimed at the 10th anniversary since the signing of the Strategic Partnership, as well as the celebration of the Greater Union Centennial in 1918.

According to the Presidential Administration, on 27 November, President Klaus Iohannis will attend, at the National Residence of the Invalids (Hotel national des Invalides), the concert dedicated to the commemoration of those fallen in the World War I and he will tour the exhibition called "A l'Est, la huerre sans fin - 1918-1923," which includes a series of art works dedicated to Romania and to the mission of General Berthlot. Moreover, on this occasion common stamp with the effigy of General Berthelot will also be launched, in the context of the Greater Union Centennial celebration.

The opening of the Romanian-France Cultural Season will take place at the Georges Pompidou Centre, in the attendance of President Klaus Iohannis and his French counterpart Emmanuel Macron. The two president will visit the Brancusi Workshop, the exhibition dedicated to the "ia" (a Romanian traditional blouse) in the artwork of painters Matisse and Pallady, as well as the exhibitions of Gherasim Luca, Mihail Olos, Andrei Cadere and Adrian Ghenie, who open a a season of contemporary Romanian art at the Beaubourg Center.

Afterwards, the two presidents will carry out official talk at the Elysee Palace, that will be aimed at confirming the special character of the bilateral relation, deepening the Strategic Partnership, strengthening the economic cooperation and the role of the Romanian community of France. Furthermore, a exchange of views will also take place on topical issues of the EU agenda, including in the context of Romania preparing to take over the Presidency of the Council of the EU, as well as the international and security agenda, respectively.

On Wednesday, President Klaus Iohannis will meet at the headquarters of Romania's Embassy in Paris with representatives of the Romanian community residing in France.

The organisation of the Romania-France Season was convened within a meeting that took place in Paris, on 10 February 2015, between Romania's and France's Presidents. The Romania-France Season is included in the Roadmap of the bilateral Strategic Partnership, with 400 projects to be carried out both in France, between 28 November 2018 - 17 April 2019 and Romania, between 18 April - 14 June 2019. The Cultural Season will propose the audience several cultural events, but also events in the areas of education and innovation, economy and entrepreneurship, gastronomy, tourism and sports, as well as cooperation between local colleges.

On 10 November, Romanian Ambassador in Paris Luca Niculescu announced that, as of November, in over 100 cities of Romania and France, approximately 500 events in all areas will be organised, occasioned by the Centennial season.

"We are in the Centennial Year, which we will celebrate in France in a special manner in a common season, which is probably the most important bilateral event ever organized by our countries. There will be about 500 events in all areas, organised in over 100 cities of France and Romania, which will start on 27 November and end next year on July 14," Ambassador Luca Niculescu stated. AGERPRES (RO - author: Florentina Peia, editor: Mihai Simionescu; EN - author: Rodica State, editor: Corneliu-Aurelian Colceriu)