Language no barrier as Hishammuddin meets French Senate President...

Education Minister Hishammuddin Hussein wraps up a four-day trip to Paris with a lively, warm meeting with the president of the French Senate Christian Poncelet on Wednesday.
So engrossing was their discussion that the minister was able to capture what Poncelet had to say on the various subjects without waiting for the help of the interpreter.

"When you talk on the same wavelength, language is not a barrier," he said after the hour-long meeting with Poncelet, who has been president of the Senate since 1998.
He was accompanied by Malaysia's permanent delegate to the Paris-based Unesco, Kenneth Luis, and two Members of Parliament -- Razali Ismail (Kuala Terengganu) and S.K.Devamany (Cameron Highlands).
Hishammuddin and Poncelet, who was in Malaysia last month for a visit, affirmed the excellent and long-standing bilateral cooperation between Malaysia and France.
They also noted the similar perspectives the two countries shared on global issues.
The minister informed Poncelet of Malaysia's decision to bid for a seat on the Unesco executive board at its 34th general conference this October.
Hishammuddin had met Unesco director-general Koichiro Matsura, who had praised Malaysia's education achievements, and permanent delegates of the other Unesco member countries during his Paris visit.
He also opened an exhibition on Malaysia's education accomplishments over the last 50 years since Independence. The exhibition being held at the Unesco headquarters ends Friday.
Hishammuddin later left for Geneva to visit the International Bureau of Education (IBE), another major agency of Unesco specialising in contents, methods and structures of education.