French Ambassador to the U.S. Laurent Bili will discuss the evolving roles of diplomacy, strategic alliances, global economics and climate change at an Oct. 9 event at Rice University’s Baker Institute for Public Policy co-hosted by Rice Global.
Bili will sit down with Baker Institute Director and former U.S. Ambassador David Satterfield to highlight the European Union’s influence and the importance of the partnership between France and the U.S. With insights from two diplomats deeply involved in shaping international relations, the conversation will offer valuable perspectives on today’s most pressing global issues and the international agenda.
What: French Perspectives on Global Challenges: A Conversation With Ambassador Laurent Bili
When: Oct. 9, 4-5:35 p.m.
Where: Rice’s James A. Baker III Hall and online. The event is free, but registration is required: in-person registration and livestream registration.
Bili is a graduate of the French National School of Public Administration and joined the French Foreign Ministry’s Strategic Affairs and Disarmament Directorate in 1991. After being seconded to the Defense Ministry as deputy diplomatic adviser, he then held several positions at the Foreign Ministry between 1995-2002: first secretary then second counselor in Ankara, Turkey; first secretary, permanent representative of France to the Western European Union; adviser to the European Union’s interim political and security committee in Brussels; and head of strategic affairs. In 2002, he became director of the Private Office of the Minister Delegate for European Affairs and was later technical adviser at the Diplomatic Unit of the Presidency of the French Republic (2002-07). He was then ambassador to Thailand, Turkey and Brazil and also held several other official roles. Prior to his appointment in Washington, Bili was France’s ambassador to China.