A head of President Kasym-Jomart Tokayev’s official visit to France, Kazakhstan’s Minister of Culture and Information, Aida Balayeva, met with France’s Minister of Culture, Rachida Dati, in Paris. This was reported by the Ministry’s press service, as cited by the Adyrna national portal.
During the meeting, the parties signed several agreements, including a declaration of intent to cooperate in the fields of museums and cultural heritage, as well as a memorandum of understanding between Kazakhstan’s National Museum and the Guimet Museum.
“Promoting and integrating Kazakhstan’s historical and cultural heritage into the global humanitarian space is one of the state’s cultural policy priorities,” said Aida Balayeva.
The ministers also discussed enhancing cooperation in research and organizing internships for Kazakh specialists under the Courants du Monde program.
France’s Minister of Culture, Rachida Dati, expressed satisfaction that President Tokayev’s state visit encompasses numerous cultural issues. “Today, we are signing several memorandums. This demonstrates the close cooperation between our countries. Furthermore, the organization of a national exhibition of Kazakhstan at the Guimet Museum is a testament to the strength and effectiveness of our relations,” she said.
Aida Balayeva voiced confidence that these agreements will lay the groundwork for new joint projects to strengthen ties between Kazakhstan and France. She mentioned potential cultural initiatives, including film production, promoting contemporary Kazakh literature in France, introducing French literature in Kazakhstan, concert collaborations, and joint cultural events focused on children’s content.
The ministers also discussed exchanging expertise in museum curation, heritage preservation, and integrating new technologies into museum practices. Both expressed interest in collaboration within the creative industries, particularly in fashion, with Balayeva proposing a focus on ethnic fashion and its global presentation.
It was previously reported that President Tokayev is on a state visit to France, and he published an article in a French newspaper ahead of the visit.
