France to build center in Bali

France to build center in Bali

BALI: The French government plans to set up a cultural center in
Bali to promote understanding of its culture, French Ambassador
to Indonesia Renaud Vignal has said.

Vignal said after meeting Bali Governor Dewa Beratha in
Denpasar on Thursday that the cultural center was a non-profit
organization that would run educational activities, such as a
French language course for elementary and junior high school
students, music courses and other arts training.

The French government wanted to boost cooperation with Bali,
Vignal said. "We will realize this cooperation through the
establishment of Indonesian-French cultural centers. One of the
them will be built in Bali," he was quoted by Antara as saying.

Bali, known as the Island of the Gods, ranks second after
Jakarta in locations most frequented by the French in Indonesia.
The French community in Bali comprises around 1,000 people.

The center is expected to help bridge cultural differences and
attract more tourists to Bali.

Beratha showed his appreciation of the French government's
interest in Bali. He also assured the ambassador that security
conditions on the island were improving and asked
for his assistance in the recovery of Bali's tourist industry.

The Oct. 1 bombings of three restaurants in Kuta and Jimbaran
have discouraged foreign tourists from visiting Bali. The
bombings killed 23 people, including three suicide bombers. -- JP