Gabon – Visit by Chrysoula Zacharopoulou (07-09 Jul. 2022)

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Chrysoula Zacharopoulou, Minister of State for Development, Francophonie and International Partnerships, attached to the Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs, will be in Gabon on July 7 through 9.

During this second trip to Africa since her appointment, she will emphasize the importance of French-Gabonese relations and the need to collaborate more extensively on combating climate change, protecting biodiversity, and education.

The minister was hosted this morning by Gabon’s President, Ali Bongo Ondimba. Tomorrow she will meet with Foreign Minister Michael Moussa-Adamo. During their discussions, they will take an in-depth look at our collaborative efforts in every sphere and on both bilateral and regional issues.

The minister attended the General Assembly of the Congo Basin Forest Partnership (CBFP). During that meeting, she reiterated France and Europe’s commitment to combat deforestation and our determination to work with all stakeholders to preserve the world’s second-largest tropical rainforest. France will help facilitate this exemplary partnership over the next two years.

The minister of state will join the Gabonese education minister for a visit to a school that was refurbished with French support. She will meet with Gabonese entrepreneurs, associations, athletes and cultural figures who attended the New Africa-France Summit on October 8 in Montpellier. Lastly, she will meet with representatives of the French community at our embassy.

Together with Gabon’s Minister of Water and Forestry, she will make two visits on July 9 focused on the environment: She will visit the Nkok Special Economic Zone, the world’s first economic zone to be certified carbon-neutral. And she will conclude her trip with a visit to the Raponda Walker Arboretum, which receives financial support from France. Dedicated to preserving biodiversity, combating climate change and providing environmental education, this facility is emblematic of French-Gabonese cooperation on environmental issues.