Speech by Ilham Aliyev at the ceremony of reviewing the French Lyceum of Baku

- Dear Mr. President,

Distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen!

First of all, Mr. President, I would like to welcome you to Azerbaijan. Welcome to our country!

This is your first visit to Azerbaijan. I am sure that your official visit will become an important step in the development of French-Azerbaijani friendly relations and give a new impetus to the expansion of our ties. Our countries have cooperated with each other for more than 20 years. This cooperation is multifaceted, covers various fields and gets stronger day by day.

We have very close political ties. This is confirmed by your official visit. There is a permanent political dialogue and an exchange of views on various topics. We successfully cooperate within the framework of international organizations. In short, the high level of our political relations has a positive impact on all other areas.

In order to give a new impetus to the work forthcoming in the economic sphere, a business forum will be held tomorrow. I am very glad that you are accompanied in Azerbaijan by a large number of business people. I am sure that the results of the business forum will also be very good because trade relations between us are enhancing and strengthening.

As you know, more than 50 French companies are active in Azerbaijan. At the same time, cooperation in the humanitarian sphere, including education, is developing. Currently, hundreds of Azerbaijani students are receiving education in universities in France, and this process continues. This is very important for the development of education in Azerbaijan. Thousands of Azerbaijani boys and girls are receiving education in prestigious universities of the world at the expense of the state.

In order to give a new impetus to the work forthcoming in the economic sphere, a business forum will be held tomorrow. I am very glad that you are accompanied in Azerbaijan by a large number of business people. I am sure that the results of the business forum will also be very good because trade relations between us are enhancing and strengthening.

As you know, more than 50 French companies are active in Azerbaijan. At the same time, cooperation in the humanitarian sphere, including education, is developing. Currently, hundreds of Azerbaijani students are receiving education in universities in France, and this process continues. This is very important for the development of education in Azerbaijan. Thousands of Azerbaijani boys and girls are receiving education in prestigious universities of the world at the expense of the state.

The fact that your visit starts with this lyceum explicitly shows that you are paying great attention to this area. Our goals in this sphere overlap. I am sure that the future students of this lyceum will try to further strengthen French-Azerbaijani relations. French children will be studying in their own language here and will thus be linked to their homeland. Also, Azerbaijani children will learn the French language perfectly well, just like their mother tongue. At the same time, this lyceum will help them become acquainted with the ancient history and rich culture of France.

France has made an invaluable contribution to world culture, science, art, architecture, etc. It is impossible to imagine the world culture without France. Our children who will study here will be closely linked with each other and become friends. I am sure that in the future, when they grow up, they will stay in touch as friends. Thus, generations of people will emerge who will treat each other with respect and love, and this will further strengthen our friendship. In short, this lyceum will become not only an educational institution but also a center of French-Azerbaijani friendship. I am confident that the education to be provided to children here will be at the highest level.

We are working on various projects in the humanitarian sphere. We are very pleased that the Azerbaijani side is also involved in projects in Paris, Versailles and Strasbourg. In particular, the Azerbaijani side has participated in the work carried out in the Louvre. This brings us even closer together. At the same time, numerous Azerbaijani events such as culture days, exhibitions and concerts have been held in various cities of France in recent years.

The connections between our cities are also very rich and effective. I can say that an Azerbaijani Culture Center has recently been opened in the center of Paris, near the Eiffel Tower. This is a small part of Azerbaijan in France. Similarly, this lyceum is the second piece of French territory in Azerbaijan after the Embassy. The establishment of the lyceum is also a manifestation of our friendship. It has been possible thanks to the joint efforts and sincere initiatives from both sides. The choice of this location is also very important. In the Soviet period, this territory was an industrial area. It is this area that has become a venue of major improvement and landscaping projects in Baku and the transfer of industrial areas outside the city. The establishment of a French school, of the French lyceum here is also quite symbolic. Right behind us, as part of the "White City" project, a Parisian quarter is being set up. "White City" is actually a city within a city. It is being created on the basis of modern methods of urban planning. Parisian houses, Parisian quarter, the French lyceum, the Caspian Sea, the Baku Boulevard – this area is turning into a beautiful city center. I am sure that the lovely atmosphere available here, the atmosphere of friendship and kind, will bring our peoples even more closely together.

Dear Mr. President and distinguished guests! I once again warmly welcome you to Azerbaijan! Thank you for accepting our invitation to visit Azerbaijan. I am confident that the visit will be very successful and produce excellent results.

Thank you!