President of the Council of States, Claude Hêche, paid an official visit to Paris on 17 and 18 September 2015. The programme included a meeting with the President of the French Senate, Gérard Larcher, and talks with officials at the International Organisation of La Francophonie and UNESCO. In addition, Claude Hêche attended celebrations to mark the 30th anniversaty of the opening of the Swiss Cultural Centre. He also talked to members of the Franco-Swiss friendship group, including its chairman Cyril Pellevat, senator for the Haute-Savoie (Rhône-Alpes). The President of the Council of States was accompanied by Raphaël Comte, Vice-President of the Council of States, and Bernardino Regazzoni, the Swiss Ambassador to Paris.
The aim of the visit was to consolidate cross-border relations and to find common ground on issues that are of interest to both countries. The two presidents of parliament made reference to the excellent relations and the active cross-border cooperation between the two countries. Senate President Larcher voiced his concern about the impact of the vote on 9 February 2014. Hêche was able to reassure his host by stressing how important the bilateral agreements are for Switzerland and the European Union. He added that a solution has to be found so as to maintain constructive relations in all sectors. Also present at the meeting was the chairman of the Franco-Swiss friendship group in the French Senate, Cyril Pellevat.
Afterwards, the President of the Council of States, Claude Hêche, held talks with Monsignor Jacques Gaillot in the Maison Mère des Spiritains. He discussed various current issues with the French prelate, such as the refugee crisis and the problem of «sans-papiers».
The Swiss delegation was also received by the permanent Swiss delegation to UNESCO. Ambassador Jean-Frédéric Jauslin first explained the delegation's tasks to his guests. He then accompanied them to a meeting with the UNESCO Deputy Director General, Getachew Engida. Talks again focused on current issues. UNESCO expressed its concern about the destruction of cultural heritage in Syria and Iraq, calling for urgent action to find a way to bring peace to the region. UNESCO takes the view that education will be a key element in any solution.
The Swiss delegation also met with various officials from the International Organisation of La Francophonie and visited the studios of the broadcaster TV5 Monde.
To conclude their visit, the delegation attended celebrations to mark the 30th anniversary of the opening of the Swiss Cultural Centre. In his speech, the President of the Council of States, Claude Hêche, touched on the current refugee crisis, which he said had shown us how fragile borders can be. He noted the contribution that many great artists from abroad had made to the success of their adopted countries.