About a dozen major French cultural organisations will present scintillating programmes in Qatar, showcasing the grand French culture for the Qatar- France Year of Culture 2020, disclosed the French ambassador.
“We have developed a roadmap and many leading French cultural organisations are eager to be part of it. We have a comprehensive roadmap and it can still be evolved for better. However, the roadmap is ready and it is not just for 2020 but beyond with a clear idea of going further developing the relations between both the countries,” French ambassador Eric Chevallier told Gulf Times.
Chevallier also revealed that the partnership between HEC Paris in Qatar and Qatar Foundation has been renewed for another five years.
“As of now, about 12 major cultural organisations from France will be part of 2020 giving performances and exhibitions. There are different things for the Year of Culture 2020 and we have worked a lot with the Ministry of Culture, Qatar Museums and other different institutions, like Qatar National Library, Katara among others. The names of the participating organisations will be announced in the due course of time. However, the frame work has been set up," explained the French envoy.
According to the official, there will be further cooperation between Qatar and France in sports. This could be in several areas such as ticketing, security, IT and many more.
“We will have more collaboration in the field of sport. As Qatar hosts 2022 World Cup, Paris is hosting 2024 Summer Olympics and the cooperation can be in several fields. As France hosted last Euro cup, we have many lessons and experience that we can share with Qatar and we have already started working on several areas,” noted the ambassador.
Chevallier who is leaving Qatar after completing his term of four years said that he had a very fulfilling time in Qatar.
“I spent four beautiful years in Doha. My wife and daughter have great memories of their stay in Qatar. My older son is studying in Paris. Qatar is a safe, peaceful, warm and welcoming county. We have a vibrant French community of over 5000. I could also engage in my favourite sports such as football, swimming and cycling. It was a great time. My daughter Sollen lived here for four years and she loved to be in Qatar,” recalled the envoy.
Chevallier was also all praise for the Qatari leadership and its people. “The country is changing rapidly. It will be amazing to see how it will be in 2022 and in 2030. The will of the leadership and the people to keep the links and roots with the past and its traditions, is truly admirable. The rapid evolution of the country as well as holding on to the roots, is a very remarkable feature of this country,” he highlighted.
The envoy also felt that building relations is one of the most important roles of an ambassador. “I am happy that I could manage to build very friendly relations that will last for a long time. The role of an ambassador is to build bridges, form relations and work together with everyone," he added.
