Cairo: Dr Ahmed Fouad Henu, the Minister of Culture of Egypt, met with Mrs Fran§oise Remarque, Minister of Culture and Francophonie of C´te d’Ivoire, during her visit to Egypt. She represented the Ivorian President at the Grand Egyptian Museum’s opening. The meeting aimed at bolstering cultural ties between the two nations and expanding cooperation in thought, arts, and heritage, highlighting Egypt’s perspective of Africa as a natural component of its civilizational and cultural identity.
According to State Information Service Egypt, the discussions between the two ministers were centered on enhancing cooperation in culture, arts, and heritage. They explored avenues for cultural exchanges, joint art exhibitions, artist and expert exchange programs, and collaborations on preserving both tangible and intangible heritage. Plans for organizing joint cultural events were also on the agenda, aimed at fostering deeper connections between the Egyptian and Ivorian people.
Both ministers emphasized the need for a permanent framework for cultural collaboration, focusing on expertise exchange, training, cultural capacity-building, and supporting joint creative efforts. Dr Ahmed Fouad Hanno expressed Egypt’s intent to reinforce cultural relations across Africa, seeing culture as a powerful means to transcend borders and foster closer ties. He highlighted C´te d’Ivoire as a crucial ally in fostering an African cultural renaissance built on creativity and cooperation.
Dr Hanno also expressed eagerness to initiate joint cultural projects soon and invited Mrs. Remarque to the 57th Cairo International Book Fair, aiming to further strengthen cultural ties. Mrs. Remarque praised the Grand Egyptian Museum and Egypt’s role in cultural preservation. She expressed C´te d’Ivoire’s desire for a robust partnership in arts, heritage, education, and culture, learning from Egypt’s expertise in large-scale cultural initiatives.
Mrs. Remarque extended an invitation to Dr Hanno to visit C´te d’Ivoire in 2026 to explore Ivorian cultural landmarks and enhance bilateral cooperation mechanisms. She also congratulated Egypt on Dr Khaled El-Enany’s election as UNESCO Director-General, seeing it as a victory for Egypt and Africa, and hoped Egyptian-Ivorian relations would exemplify cultural cooperation in Africa.
The meeting concluded with an agreement to establish a joint working group to formulate a cultural cooperation program, aiming to elevate the cultural profiles of Egypt and C´te d’Ivoire on regional and international stages.