Mr. Laurent Fabius, Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Development, will meet with John Kerry at the Quai d'Orsay on May 8. Mr. Fabius will thank his American colleague for attending the ceremonies in Paris to mark the 70th anniversary of the end of the Second World War. This gesture is a powerful symbol of the historic friendship between our two countries and our shared attachment to freedom.

Germany - Participation by Mr. Laurent Fabius and his German colleague in the inauguration ceremony for the stained glass windows of the Cathedral of Reims (Reims, May 11, 2015)

Mr. Laurent Fabius will participate on May 11 together with his German counterpart, Frank-Walter Steinmeier, in the inauguration ceremony for the three new stained glass windows of the Cathedral of Reims, in the presence of students from French and German schools. These stained glass windows, created by artist Imi Knoebel, were given by Germany to France.

Mr. Fabius and Mr. Steinmeier will meet with representatives of French-German cultural groups and associations at Reims City Hall.

The city of Reims and its cathedral still bear the scars of the destruction caused by the First World War. The inauguration of these stained glass windows in this city, which has become a symbol of French-German reconciliation, will help reaffirm the strength of the unique partnership between our two countries.

Economic diplomacy - China - Mr. Laurent Fabius to receive Hong Kong/Europe Business Council (Paris, May 11, 2015)

Mr. Laurent Fabius will receive, at the Quai d'Orsay on May 11, the members of the Hong Kong/Europe Business Council, which brings together major European and Hong Kong companies; its annual meeting will take place in Paris this year.

We attach great importance to our economic relations with Hong Kong, with which we have a large trade surplus: In 2014, France recorded a surplus of €3.7 billion with the autonomous region.

The meeting on May 11, in which French companies will participate, will provide an opportunity to promote bilateral exchanges and France's attractiveness to Hong Kong investors.

Foreign trade - Mr. Matthias Fekl's participation in the 2nd Worldwide Symposium of the Foreign Trade Advisors of France (Miami, May 8, 2015)

Mr. Matthias Fekl, Minister of State for Foreign Trade, the Promotion of Tourism and French Nationals Abroad, will travel to Miami tomorrow to participate in the 2nd Worldwide Symposium of the Foreign Trade Advisors of France.

This symposium is being organized by the National Committee of Foreign Trade Advisors of France, a non-profit organization which coordinates a network of 4,000 French foreign trade advisors in more than 150 countries. It is an economic and business forum as well as a networking platform.

Nearly 3,000 participants from 50 countries are expected to attend the symposium, including personalities from political and economic spheres and 600 business leaders, including French business leaders established abroad, heads of French companies with international operations, small and medium-sized enterprises and intermediate size companies seeking to expand internationally.

Nepal - Update (May 7, 2015)

The most recent toll issued by the Nepalese authorities stands at 7,675 dead and almost 15,000 injured.

With respect to French nationals, 4 deaths have been confirmed and 9 people are reported as missing in Langtang Valley. A reconnaissance flight, coordinated by our embassy in collaboration with the sécurité civile [French emergency services] team and the National Gendarmerie's Institute of Criminal Research (IRCGN), is scheduled to take place today in this area.

Our diplomatic post in Kathmandu and the crisis and support center in Paris are trying to find the 14 French citizens who remain unaccounted for.