Mayor Rahm Emanuel announced Monday he will travel to Paris in early December, just a few weeks after a series of deadly terror attacks ravaged the French capital.
After a meeting with the French Consul General in Chicago, the mayor announced he would travel to Paris Dec. 4 to attend the Climate Summit for Local Leaders. The global conference will be attended by mayors, governors and other local leaders from around the world and will focus on climate change. The 21st Conference of Parties, another conference with leaders from countries around the world, will take place in Paris at the same time with a similar focus on climate change.
While in Paris, Emanuel will also attend "bilateral meetings with partner governments," according to the mayor's office. Other details on Emanuel's schedule for the trip have not yet been released.
"I think all of us are strengthened to see the resolve and the resilience of the French people and Parisians in particular, and I would say to the Consulate General, you have friends here in Chicago," Emanuel said Monday.
The December trip will not be Emanuel's first visit to Paris, which is one of Chicago's "sister cities." In July, Emanuel spent several days in Paris for a trip that was one part family vacation and one part business trip as he met with several French officials and discussed common goals between Chicago and Paris, including riverwalk development.
Although the mayor's visit to Paris is not in direct response to the terror attacks, the mayor's office says his continued plans to make the trip contribute to the "remarkable show of global solidarity with Paris."
Following the attacks on Friday, Emanuel released a statement calling the tragic events "despicable" and "horrifying."
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"Tonight the City of Chicago stands shoulder to shoulder with the City of Paris in the wake of today's despicable and horrifying attacks," Emanuel said in the statement. "For nearly 20 years Chicago and Paris have been sister cities, united by a free and rich exchange of culture. I speak for all Chicago when I say that we are saddened and sicked by what has taken place tonight and our thoughts and prayers remain with the victims, their families, and with all of the French people."
