BEIRUT: On the occasion of International Francophone Day, President Michel Sleiman said Tuesday that Lebanon is a model of dialogue between different cultures and religions, and urged the world Francophone community to expand its influence.

According to Sleiman’s press office, the president expressed hope that the Francophone nations would enlarge their presence in the fields of arts and culture so as to remain the civilized meeting point for civilizations, religions and cultures.

He added that Lebanon represents an international model for different cultures, religions and civilizations to engage in dialogue. International Francophone Day commemorates the founding of the international organization that includes governments whose mother language or secondary language is French or most of whose population consists of French speakers.