Paris: Egypt's Minister of Culture Gehan Zaki held talks with her French counterpart Catherine Pegard in Paris at the conclusion of her official visit to the French capital. The meeting followed up on earlier strategic discussions held during the French minister's visit to Cairo, focusing on setting implementation mechanisms and timelines for joint projects and initiatives agreed upon in Egypt.

According to State Information Service Egypt, both sides also sought to strengthen ongoing coordination on cultural issues of mutual interest and reinforce cultural diplomacy as a key pillar of bilateral relations. The discussions reviewed landmark examples in Egypt-France cultural relations, particularly the historic cooperation led by Egypt's Tharwat Okasha and France's Andr© Malraux, who helped shape public cultural awareness and promote the concept of culture as a universal human right.

Zaki highlighted this legacy as France marks the 50th anniversary of Malraux's death, emphasizing its relevance to contemporary cultural policy. Both ministers agreed to organize two-day cultural events in Egypt and France to honor their contributions.

The talks also covered film industry cooperation, including discussions with France's National Center for Cinema and the Moving Image to enhance co-production, exchange expertise, and preserve cinematic archives. In the publishing sector, both sides agreed that Egypt will be the guest of honor at the 2027 Paris Book Fair, while the French Minister is expected to visit Egypt soon to follow up on implementation.

Both ministers reaffirmed the importance of expanding institutional partnerships to strengthen cultural exchange between Cairo and Paris and promote sustainable cultural development.