A French diplomat will travel to Colombia tomorrow as part of efforts to strengthen ties between the two countries.
Pierre Sellal, the secretary general of French Foreign and European Affairs, will meet his Colombian counterpart Monica Lanzetta Mutis and Colombian Foreign Minister Maria Angela Holguin, to discuss bilateral issues and France’s relationship to Latin America.
France, which saw an increase in trade with Colombia of 35% last year, wants to further intensify its relationship with the Andean nation, according to Colombian media.
Sellal said the two countries hoped to discuss “all issues of common interest and open new perspectives, especially on issues like economic cooperation and cultural,” reported Colombian news network CM&.
It was important for France and Colombia to hold regular meetings, he added, given Colombia’s position as a non-permanent member of the United Nations Security Council.
According to France, his two-day visit is the perfect opportunity to strengthen ties with Colombia and to reflect on its relationship with other Latin America countries.
This is especially important with just a few weeks before the G20 summit in Mexico and prior to the June celebration of the UN Conference on Sustainable Develeopment (UNCSD) in Brazil, according to Sellal.