Mexico – Visit by Jean-Yves Le Drian (18-20 December 2019)
Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs Jean-Yves Le Drian will be in Mexico on December 18-20.
The minister will meet with Mexican authorities and will hold discussions with his counterpart, Foreign Secretary Marcelo Ebrard, and Claudia Sheinbaum, Head of Government of Mexico City.
Mr. Le Drian and his Mexican interlocutors will reaffirm the mutual desire of France and Mexico – both members of the G20 and the OECD – to promote and defend an effective multilateral system as well as our shared values: promoting international law and cooperation, defending the environment and combating climate disruption, and fighting inequality. With his interlocutors, the minister will review preparations for the Generation Equality Forum, a global gathering for gender equality convened by UN Women and co-chaired by France and Mexico, with the leadership and partnership of civil society; it will be meeting in Mexico City in May and then in Paris in July.
Our bilateral cooperation with Mexico will be expanded during this visit, especially in the areas of higher education and research, vocational training, culture, and heritage. During his visit, Mr. Le Drian will sign an agreement to establish a plan reintroducing French into the entire Mexican public school system, a declaration of intent to strengthen the Mexfitec scholarship program for engineering students, co-funded by France and Mexico, as well as an agreement to enhance cooperation with Mexico on strengthening the civil service. The minister will express France’s support for the program “Jóvenes Construyendo el Futuro” (“Young People Building the Future”), which provides training and professional development for young Mexicans.
The minister will meet with the Franco-Mexican Strategic Council, which brings together French and Mexican figures from the private sector, civil society and institutions, and proposes initiatives in such areas of common interest as the climate and sustainable development, healthcare, the digital economy, education, and vocational training. He will also meet with members of the French and Mexican business communities.