Rustam Minnikhanov and Mayor of Paris Anne Hidalgo discuss holding national holiday Sabantuy in the capital of France

On February 16, at his meeting with Mayor of Paris Anne Hidalgo, who arrived in Kazan on a two-day working visit, at the Governor's Palace of the Kazan Kremlin, Tatarstan President Rustam Minnikhanov thanked Anne Hidalgo for taking time from her busy schedule to visit Kazan and her interest in the republic.

"We appreciate our cooperation at the interregional level within the framework of Russian-French relations", Minnikhanov said.

Tatarstan President continued that he appreciated the work Anne Hidalgo is carrying out at the United Cities and Local Governments Organization. “Local governments are the foundation of any state and you make your own contribution to this foundation,” he said.

Then, Minnikhanov briefed about cooperation with a number of French companies, that are doing business in Tatarstan. He also said that Tatarstan monuments of architecture and history are included in the UNESCO World Heritage List (the Kazan Kremlin and Museum-Reserve in the city of Bolgar). Besides, work to include another site, the Assumption Cathedral, which is located in the island-town of Sviyazhsk, in the list is underway. According to him, a national holiday Sabantuy can also qualify for inclusion in the UNESCO's Intangible Heritage List. 

"We appreciate the cooperation agreement  signed between Paris and Kazan, which is a good signal," Tatarstan President said.

The agreement envisages establishing long-term bilateral ties, joint activities, exchange of information, cooperation in the field of tourism, investment activities, implementation of cultural projects.

Minnikhanov and Anne Hidalgo discussed issues of holding a national holiday Sabantuy in Paris in 2017. It is assumed that Sabantuy 2017 will be held in the Champ de Mars in the French capital. The date will be determined later.

Moreover, according to Tatarstan President, it is important to develop contacts in the tourism industry, sports, and education.

In her turn, Anne Hidalgo said that the experience of Tatarstan and Kazan in the preparation and holding of sports events of international level is of interest today. "We are interested in your strategy of the development of tourism and sports, the construction of large-scale sports facilities, all the international events that you have already held and are willing to host. This is all very important" she said.

Anne Hidalgo reminded that experience of Tatarstan in providing security during mass events is important to Paris. She assured that Paris is ready to share its own experience in the field of tourism, attracting tourists from around the world, increasing the tourist flow. 

Anne Hidalgo also said that one of the most promising areas of interaction is education. “It is necessary that our young people know each other, establish contacts, ties between educational institutions, colleges and high schools, of Kazan and Paris”, she went on to say.  

Minnikhanov supported the idea of strengthening cooperation in the field of tourism, sports, and especially education. In addition, he noted that Tatarstan as a Russian region has a serious centuries-old experience of peaceful coexistence of people of different nationalities and different religions.

Mayor of Kazan Ilsur Metshin, Minister of Education and Science of the republic Albert Karimov, Minister of Youth Affairs and Sport of the republic Vladimir Leonov, CEO of Tatarstan Investment Development Agency Taliya Minnulina and other officials took part in the meeting.