DCMS Secretary of State Matt Hancock met French counterparts to build on the great cultural ties between the UK and France.
Sport, digital skills and cultural exchanges were all on the agenda. The UK and France agreed to support one another in these areas, working together on our shared future.
Prime Minister Theresa May announced that the Bayeux Tapestry will return to the UK for the first time in more than 900 years.
The unique 70 metre long tapestry that depicts the 1066 Norman Conquest of Britain will be put on public display in 2022 as part of a series of cultural exchanges between the UK and France over the next four years.
Matt Hancock hailed France as a key partner in helping to protect sport's integrity and signed. He signed an agreement to share expertise and best practice to help tackle sports corruption and match-fixing through illegal and irregular betting.
The UK and France are strengthening ties in technology and innovation with a shared agreement on net neutrality and plans for a new digital conference covering:
- Artificial Intelligence
- Digital skills
- Digital government
- Data and cyber security
Matt Hancock presented the treaty from 1518 as a gift to French Culture Minister Francoise Nyssen. The Treaty of London paved the way for a meeting between King Henry VIII and King Francis I of France, who was a great patron of the arts, to strengthen the relationship between the two countries. 500 years later, the UK and France are continuing to build on this legacy.
