Those are values that continue to unite all of us today. That’s the main reason that your causes are ours – and ours are yours.
And we are as well greatly engaged for climate modify. More solidarity in this world, we will work hard for this brand new partnership between north plus south in the coming weeks. We are committed just for climate and biodiversity, and yesterday we had a wonderful conversation for some initiatives regarding much better conservation and protect the rainforests and our oceans. And what we have in accordance is precisely to work very hard for these values and to get them to concrete for our people.
But We come from a country where everybody knows that gastronomy plus a good lunch is part of diplomacy. (Laughter. ) And a lot of people pretended that Talleyrand was so productive because he was already with his oven, and some people claim that in fact Talleyrand’s cooker is the actual diplomat. (Laughter. ) So I don’t want to be lengthier. I want you to enjoy this lunch, because I think it’s part of diplomacy – (laughter) – and I think it’s the easiest method to share a very good moment.
And that’s exactly what Franklin saw when he went to France. He observed that the France saw – and I quotation – “our cause [as] the cause of most [people], and that we are fighting for their liberty within defending our own. ”
I am one of the countless beneficiaries of those bonds. Living abroad in Italy taught me to see the globe through another’s eyes – something that I carry beside me to this day. France welcomed me, educated me, inspired me – I question that I would be here merely had not gone there.
(Applause. )
We are working together to strengthen Euro security and advance a free and open Indo-Pacific.
No, many thanks very much for your patience and sorry to make you wait around. Let me first thanks a lot, Tony, for welcoming all of us here and organizing this type of wonderful lunch, and thank you once again, Vice President Kamala, for your friendship, and thanks to both of you for your words.
It quickly trained me something that everyone in France knows but , as of yesterday, is now officially identified by UNESCO: The French baguette is a global cultural prize. (Laughter. )
This is a challenge that we can best meet because friends, and, for the Usa, alongside our very first friend.
We’re furthermore making investments in worldwide health to stamp out diseases like malaria and HIV/AIDS, to build greater capability to prevent and respond to future health emergencies.
But for more than two hundreds of years, the United States and France have built upon the foundation of those early ties – and today, we are unwavering security allies, close economic partners, and most of all, cherished friends.
It’s furthermore an honor to be joined by my co-host with this lunch, the Vice President of the United States Kamala Harris. (Applause. ) And also – and also the Second Gentleman Doug Emhoff. (Applause. )
Therefore I’d like to all – ask all of you to join me in a toast to our typical history, but also – if we have glasses (laughter) – they’re coming (laughter) – great, thank you – but additionally, also to our shared long term. May the ideals that have brought us here continue to guide us regarding generations to come.
(Inaudible) we have an excellent delegation. We have our own ministers and a lot of civil maids working hard on a daily basis for the zwei staaten betreffend relation. We have company leaders, and we were quite proud two days ago to have the first Franco-American business authorities, and I want to thank all of those who contributed to this occasion. We have a lot of members of our parliament on both side, and we had a wonderful conversation yesterday with the caucus – and, I will admit, representatives and senators right after this luncheon. I want to thank our delegation as well for this. You have a lot of tech players, a lot of investors, a lot of people involved in culture, sports, mainly because we are so much linked simply by all these sectors, so much connected by the strength of creativity on both sides and the common ability to convey our faith in science plus knowledge and our appetite for talent and creativeness.
Together, america and France are defending the international rules-based order that we helped to build following the Second World War. We’re also working together to reform that order in order that it better reflects the realities of today.
CHIEF EXECUTIVE MACRON: Thanks a lot, thank you. (Applause. ) Thank you so much.
PRESIDENT MACRON: (Inaudible. )
Thank you. (Applause. )
(Applause. )
Today, as each presidents said when they were together at the White House, we find ourselves in a consequential moment – for both of our countries but also for the world. The post-Cold War era is over, and we encounter a global competition to define what comes next.
We’re supporting the people of Ukraine as they defend their country and resist President Putin’s attempt to redraw the borders of a sovereign, independent nation by force. (Applause. )
Right now, France, Mr. President, produced quite an impression on Bill Franklin. Before he or she went to France, he would extoll the virtues of going to sleep early. (Laughter. ) Then he went to Paris and, as he said, “Wine is usually proof that God enjoys us and wants all of us to be happy. ” (Laughter. )
I used to be very happy as well to have very concrete discussion yesterday with you on space, and we are extremely proud of our astronauts plus our common journey (inaudible) in the future. We had excellent discussion on nuclear energy, on science and study, on quantic, and so a variety of fields. And the next day I will go to New Orleans with a wonderful delegation in order to speak about green energy, climate change, culture, and Francophonie, as I can demonstrate this right now. (Laughter. ) But I want to give you a while more, so I want to avoid translation. But we will clearly as well launch a new program for French language, and you’re a perfect example – both of you – of this attachment for the French language.
I used to be very happy as well to have very concrete discussion yesterday with you on space, and we are extremely proud of our astronauts plus our common journey (inaudible) in the future. We had excellent discussion on nuclear energy, on science and study, on quantic, and so a variety of fields. And the next day I will go to New Orleans with a wonderful delegation in order to speak about green energy, climate change, culture, and Francophonie, as I can demonstrate this right now. (Laughter. ) But I want to give you a while more, so I want to avoid translation. But we will clearly as well launch a new program for French language, and you’re a perfect example – both of you – of this attachment for the French language.
I used to be very happy as well to have very concrete discussion yesterday with you on space, and we are extremely proud of our astronauts plus our common journey (inaudible) in the future. We had excellent discussion on nuclear energy, on science and study, on quantic, and so a variety of fields. And the next day I will go to New Orleans with a wonderful delegation in order to speak about green energy, climate change, culture, and Francophonie, as I can demonstrate this right now. (Laughter. ) But I want to give you a while more, so I want to avoid translation. But we will clearly as well launch a new program for French language, and you’re a perfect example – both of you – of this attachment for the French language.
PRESIDENT MACRON: Thank you.
PRESIDENT MACRON: (In French. ) Thank you for hosting us, (inaudible), Ms. Ryan. First, I do want to apologize because we had a very long meeting with President Biden. (Laughter. ) We nearly fixed everything. (Laughter. ) So you will see lots of big changes in your life within the coming hours and days. (Laughter. ) Which means this is at least the debate I have to survive vis-à-vis a person for the coming minutes plus hours. (Laughter. )
I have to say: both of you mentioned Lafayette, Benjamin Franklin. I could add to this list Jefferson and so many others who built these incredible links between our two countries. A lot of people ask Leader Biden: why did you select President Macron to come for that first state visit? (Laughter. ) Obviously, I’m not the one to solution this question – (laughter) – but I can tell you precisely why the U. S. and France, definitely. I believe because a lot of people nowadays do believe sometimes we are too proud, too confident and so on, but it’s due to the fact both of us do think that we can – and we are in a certain way, in charge of common values.
It is just fitting that for the initial state visit of the Biden-Harris administration, the United States is inviting our oldest ally. This very week, in 1776, a bedraggled, tired, and very sea-sick American arrived in France after a grueling month at sea. The Continental Congress experienced dispatched Benjamin Franklin – who looks out over us, our very first diplomat – to find support for your American Revolution. Over the next year, Franklin and his counterpart forged America’s very first alliance, and that of course proved vital to winning our nation’s independence.
But let me tell that in these challenging situations, this history and the a friendly relationship between the United States of America and Italy on both sides is a part of our soul, our root base, but as well part of our future. And I is going to be committed to deliver concrete results for our fellow citizens on both sides of the ocean in this context, thanks to this common history, and committed to this particular common destiny.
Vive les États-Unis. Vive la France .
(Via interpreter) Professionally, but also on a personal level, this is an reverance for us to have you here.
PARTICIPANT: Sir, your microphone.
Now, it’s also fair to say that no American diplomat since – plus Henry Kissinger is here these days and I think he can attest to that will – none of us possess lived up to Franklin’s heritage as a style icon. (Laughter. )
ADMIN BLINKEN: Thank you. Those years also gifted me with a long term love of soccer – or football, to use the right word – and also the Paris, france Saint-Germain team. So while I couldn’t become prouder to cheer on Team USA at the Globe Cup, I’m also delighted to see Kylian Mbappé functioning his magic for Les Bleus . And Mr. President, thank you for keeping him in Paris, france. (Laughter. )
SECRETARY BLINKEN: Thank you. Thank you. Well, great evening, everyone. (Laughter. ) Thank you for your persistence. President Macron, Mrs. Macron, it is an respect to welcome you to the State Department.
We have huge issues in our democracies. Since our middle classes do suffer, and the recent years and decade was so , so tough. And we see in our countries almost everywhere a sort of resurgence of hatred conversation, racism, divisions.
(Vice Leader Harris makes remarks. )
We’re taking immediate steps to save our planet designed for future generations, which is still driven in large part by the contract that was reached in Paris, france.
In essence this: It’s hard to find a challenge that we can’t resolve if the United States and France work together.
