In Paris, as part of the Days of Kazakh Culture in France, Minister of Culture and Information of the Republic of Kazakhstan Arman Kyrykbayev met with French Minister of Culture Catherine Pégard.

During the meeting, the parties discussed priority areas for further developing cultural cooperation. Arman Kyrykbayev noted that cultural ties between Kazakhstan and France are developing dynamically. According to him, the friendly and trust-based relations between the presidents of Kazakhstan and France have played a particularly important role in elevating bilateral relations to a higher level and giving greater consistency to cooperation between the two countries.

The Minister expressed Kazakhstan’s readiness to provide comprehensive support for expanding cooperation between cultural institutions of the two countries. Particular attention was paid to organizing reciprocal tours by artistic groups from Kazakhstan and France.

Catherine Pégard expressed her interest in implementing joint projects. The parties also discussed organizing educational programmes, internships and mutual master classes for specialists from the two countries.

During his working visit to France, Arman Kyrykbayev also met with Louvre Museum President Christophe Leribault. The parties discussed the possibility of organizing an exhibition in Kazakhstan featuring artefacts from the Louvre’s collections, as well as ways to implement other joint projects in the museum sector.

As part of the programme of the Days of Kazakh Culture in France, the Days of Kazakh Cinema were held, along with a round table entitled “Kazakhstan – France: From Cultural Dialogue to Joint Projects” at the Musée du quai Branly – Jacques Chirac. The highlight of the cultural programme was a gala concert featuring leading Kazakh artists at the Théâtre Marigny in Paris.

Opening the concert, Arman Kyrykbayev emphasized the steady development of relations between Kazakhstan and France and the special role of culture in bringing the two peoples closer together.

“Today, relations between Kazakhstan and France are developing dynamically in the spirit of an enhanced strategic partnership. The state visit of President of the Republic of Kazakhstan Kassym-Jomart Tokayev to France in 2024 and the visit of President of France Emmanuel Macron to Kazakhstan in 2023 gave new impetus to bilateral cooperation. I am confident that today’s gala concert will be another important step towards strengthening the friendship between our peoples,” the Minister said.

The gala concert introduced French audiences to the richness and diversity of Kazakh music and choreography. Traditional Kazakh songs and instrumental compositions, as well as contemporary works, were performed on stage.

The concert featured performances by Alisher Karimov, Zarina Altynbayeva, Yernar SadyRBAY (Amre), Eldar Saparayev, Rasul Zharmagambetov, Farkhat Kubiyev, Nazym Sagyntai, the Astana Ballet Theatre, the HasSak ethno-folklore ensemble and the Mezzo group. The performers were accompanied by the Kazakh Folk Instruments Student Orchestra of the Kurmangazy Kazakh National Conservatory.