October 1, 2018: An official delegation of the Embassy of France to Russia led by Her Excellency Ambassador Sylvie Bermann, visited the city of Taganrog on September 28, 2018.

The first item on the program was the meeting with lectors and students of Taganrog Chekhov Teachers College (former TGPI, now part of Rostov State University of Economics). The French delegation was welcomed with the traditional bread and salt of hospitality and a song to the health of the guests. After visiting a book exhibition dedicated to intercultural dialogue France-Russia and an exhibition of decorative art, the visitors were invited into the assembly hall to meet students and lectors of the Foreign Language Department.


The meeting started with an introduction of educational, scientific and cultural relations between the Taganrog Chekhov Teachers College and France, made by college director Mr. Andrei Goloborodko, who highlighted several achievements: victories of French-language students at various competitions, participation of Taganrog Chekhov Teachers College folk band "Lel" in the Festival International de Musique Universitaire (FIMU) in Belfort, France, several joint projects with Alliance Francaise in Rostov-on-Don.


In her speech, Ambassador Bermann emphasized the importance of language and literature in strengthening international relations and revealed that the two of her favorite authors are Marcel Proust and the native of Taganrog - Anton Chekhov.

"I am very impressed with francophonie and francophilie of Taganrog Chekhov Teachers College students. I would like to express sincere gratitude to its director, Andrei Goloborodko, for his warm reception and continued support of French language promotion in the region", wrote Sylvie Bermann in her official Twitter-account.


After the meeting at the Teachers College, the French delegation visited the city's tourist attractions - memorial museum "The Birth House of Anton Chekhov" and "Chekhov Gymnasium" museum.