Former French consul general in Alexandria Gilles Gauthier Saturday said that the visit of French President Emmanuel Macron to Egypt and his participation in inaugurating the new campus of Senghor University in Borg El Arab City represent an “exceptional moment” in the course of bilateral relations and carry profound significance reflecting the strength of the partnership between Cairo and Paris.
Gauthier, in statements to MENA, described the French president’s visit to Alexandria as a clear declaration that the two countries are moving together toward their shared golden era, noting that relations are currently witnessing their best phase in terms of coordination, cooperation, partnership, and mutual trust.
The visit represents a natural extension of a continuous path of high-level visits between the two countries, which have consistently focused on strengthening economic and cultural partnership amid deep mutual confidence and convergence of visions, the former consul general said.
President Macron’s keenness to personally visit Alexandria reflects explicit appreciation for the city’s historical and cultural role, in addition to the status of Senghor University as one of the most prominent Francophone institutions concerned with preparing African cadres since its foundations were laid by the late Dr Boutros Boutros-Ghali in partnership with Francophone countries, Gauthie said.
He praised support provided by the Egyptian state for developing the new headquarters of the university affiliated with the International Organisation of La Francophonie, considering it a qualitative boost to its academic journey that enhances its role as a platform for preparing African elites capable of leading development and as a vital bridge linking Egypt and France through their shared African depth.
Gauthier linked the timing of the inauguration of the new headquarters in Borg El Arab City with the holding of the Africa Forward Summit on May 11-12 in Kenya, saying that this coincidence reveals a clear French orientation toward strengthening partnership with Africa through development and effective cooperation tools, while also consolidating Egypt’s position as a pivotal partner in the stability of the region and the continent.
He affirmed that Egypt plays a pivotal role in supporting Francophonie in the region through its educational system and elites proficient in the French language, which enhances its ability to interact with French-speaking African countries and establishes common ground for Egyptian-French interests in development and cultural cooperation.
Gauthier highlighted that Egypt and France share common goals in promoting development and stability, making their partnership a model of constructive cooperation based on trust and shared history.
He stressed that Egyptian-French relations go beyond temporary considerations, as they are rooted in historical heritage and deeply established human and cultural ties that grant them remarkable resilience and capacity for development in the face of challenges.
