Anne Hidalgo: “I am proud to be the first Mayor of Paris, who discovered Kazan”

(KZN.RU, February 16, Alsu Safina). The heads of cities Ilsur Metshin and Anne Hidalgo discussed cooperation between Kazan and Paris today at the City Hall. Two capitals are planning to cooperate in the field of education, sports, tourism and economy.

Ilsur Metshin, the Mayor of Kazan, visited the French capital last December. The agreement in the field of tourism, culture and sports was signed then. Yesterday, the Mayor of Paris arrived in Kazan with a return visit.

Welcoming the guest, the Mayor noted that the capital’s City Hall keeps a history of the great people who have visited the city and worked here. “Today, your visit is inscribed a golden page in the annals of Kazan”, said I. Metshin. “I am confident that it will begin a great creative work and friendship of our cities and our citizens”. The Mayor of Kazan expressed his admiration for the work of his colleague. “I want to wish success and prosperity to the great city of Paris”, he added.

Later, Anne Hidalgo said that the meeting with Ilsur Metshin was very productive, and expressed confidence that Kazan and Paris expects a productive cooperation in various fields.

Mayors discussed the possibility of launching an exchange program for students of Kazan and Paris, which will strengthen the relationship between the two cities. Also, two capitals plan to cooperate in the field of tourism. “Our cities have great potential. I am sure that many Parisians will get to know your city with great pleasure”, said Anne Hidalgo, adding that they should not underestimate the economic component, referring to the development of tourism. “The fact that two mayors made the serious cooperation will only contribute to the economic development of our cities”, assured the guest.

According to her, the mayors’ task is to fight for flourishing of the population, developing of the city, and to open up new opportunities for this. “The activities of the Mayor of Kazan, including at the international level, shows the focus on results and the desire to adequately represent Kazan on the world stage”, said Anne Hidalgo. “I try to show, for my part, that Paris has a rich history and at the same time, it is focused on the future and the present. Our ideas are the same in this”, said the Mayor of Paris. “We, as the mayors, should be adventurous and optimistic in any situation”, she added, answering a question about if the economic situation will prevent the implementation of joint plans.

Anne Hidalgo drew attention to the fact that Kazan is a wonderful example of how different religions peacefully coexist in the same city. “The fact, that different communities can live in harmony and joy, is an important idea for us, which we support. All religions and faiths are also represented in Paris. We are also trying to build a dialogue, based on tolerance and mutual understanding. I think we have much to learn from each other”, said the Mayor of Paris.

One of the objectives of this visit to Kazan became the acquaintance with the successful experience of the city to participate in the bidding campaign to host major sporting events. And the capital of France claims the right to host the Summer Olympics in 2024. Today, Anne Hidalgo visited the sports facilities of the city: the Palace of water sports and the stadium “Kazan Arena”. “Sport, which occupies a large place in Kazan projects, is an important topic. Notable sporting events that took place here, Universiade and the World Cup in water sports, are a great experience that we would like to learn from Kazan”, noted the Mayor of Paris.

According to her, a sports theme brings together two cities also because Kazan will host the World Cup football matches in 2018, and in 2016, France held the European Championship. Anne Hidalgo said that she could not come to Kazan for the matches of the Confederations Cup, and expressed the hope that next year she will return for the World Cup.

The Mayor of Kazan showed reporters the present: the icon of the application of Paris for the right to host the Olympics. “From this evening I am the ambassador in Paris of the application”, said the Mayor, smiling. “It is not only the synergy between the two cities, but all the municipalities that support our colleague, and that will allow to take in the French capital the summer Olympics in 2024”. “And we will learn some of the time with them, and then bring the Summer Olympics in Kazan”, said I. Metshin. “I believe in a future Olympics in Paris and in a future Olympics in Kazan”.

“I think of it as a historical event that the grand Paris has arrived in Kazan. This is a great honor for me. I am proud that my colleague is one of the most respected mayors, and how successfully she manages the megapolis. We all have something to learn from Paris”, said Ilsur Metshin. “These are big challenges for them and us. Time is changing very rapidly. This exchange of practices is important for tomorrow of our cities”. The head of Kazan also cited statistics, according to which 80% of the population will live in large cities in 2050. “We must be ready for this”, he said.

Ilsur Metshin reminded that the Sabantui will be held in the French capital in May. “For the first time, we will be holding our national holiday in the heart of Europe, the capital of France, and will be able to show the diversity of Russia”, said I. Metshin. Work on the inclusion of the national holiday Sabantui in the Register of Intangible Heritage is now carrying out.

In conclusion, the Mayor of Paris shared her impressions of Kazan: “Today, I discover an amazing city. I'm surprised and impressed by the opportunities that Kazan, headed by Mayor Ilsur Metshin, was able to realize. Kazan inspires us, because it is a city focused on the future, family, children, and sports”.

“I'm happy and overwhelmed with emotion. I'm leaving the city with a lot of ideas for future cooperation. I am pleased and proud of becoming the first Mayor of Paris, who discovered your city and I fell in love with it”, admitted Anne Hidalgo, who today left the capital of Tatarstan.