Cementing friendship: Alexandre Ziegler, Ambassador of France to India and Christophe Bouchard, Director-General of Agency for French Education Abroad, inaugurating the elementary block at Lycee Francais on Wednesday. | Photo Credit: S_S_KUMAR more-in The French School of Puducherry, being one of the oldest Indo-French institutions in the country, must be at the forefront of the initiatives, the most significant one for strengthening the ties between younger generations between India and France, Alexandre Ziegler, Ambassador of France to India, has said. Inaugurating the elementary school building within the existing heritage Lycee Francais school here on Wednesday, he said that French President Macron and Prime Minister Narendra Modi during the former’s recent visit celebrated the partnership, which is not only a strategic partnership in the field of defence, security or economic investment, but also a partnership of people from the hearts, a cooperation based on strong values and people to people ties. The two leaders had signed important agreements on migration and mobility, which will facilitate the mobility of students and professionals between France and India by simplifying the entry and long-term stay and on the mutual recognition of degrees, which would facilitate the pursuit of higher education of French students in India and Indian students in France, as well as boosting their employability. “The objective of boosting people to people ties, of building this strong partnership of people between the two countries, will start in places like this French school, breeding a new generation of students, familiar with both cultures and open to the world,” he said. Mr. Ziegler announced the opening of a boarding school in the coming school term and the creation of the Lycee Francais Education Trust, which will enable French and Indian companies to support the institution. Christophe Bouchard, Director-General of Agency for French Education Abroad, Stephen Madrias, Principal, Lycee Francais and Catherine Suard, Consul-General of France in Puducherry participated.

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