Colombia

France and Columbia have maintained, for some years, strong and widespread relations. A very well maintained political dialogue, which we would like to develop and enrich, joins our two countries. This was fostered particularly well through the search for a solution that would allow for hostages held by the FARC to be freed (in July 2008). Three discussions at Head of State level have thus taken place since 2007 (September 2007, January 2008 and September 2008).

Exchanges were taken forward in 2009: discussion on 2 February 2009 by the Minister for European and Foreign Affairs with Jaime Bermudez and Luis-Guillermo Plata. On 3 February, the first meeting of the bilateral consultation mechanism took place and the Franco-Columbian Council of Business Managers was launched.

In 2010, the Columbian Vice-President, Juan Manuel Santos, came to France for a short visit and met with Jean-Louis Borloo, Minister for Ecology, Energy, Sustainable Development and the Sea. On 8 July, the French President welcomed Juan Manuel Santos to the Élysée.

^{Updated on 15.07.10}