MOSCOW, October 12. /TASS/. The Kremlin expects that Russia’s cultural and spiritual center in Paris will be opened and the Russian side will be represented at the ceremony at a high level.

"We hope that the cultural and spiritual center will be opened as planned," Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters on Wednesday. "Certainly, the Russian side will be represented at a high level during its opening."

Peskov also expressed hope that this center "will start active work from the very beginning."

Earlier reports said that the center was scheduled to be opened by Russian President Vladimir Putin on October 19. However, the visit of the Russian leader to the French capital was canceled.

The construction of the Russian cultural and spiritual center is carried out on the land lot located on Quai Branly. This area in Paris has old historic links with Russia: several hundred meters up upstream there is the famous bridge - Pont Alexandre III, built in 1896-1900 to commemorate the union of France and Russia and named after Russia’s emperor.

The foundation stone was laid at the site in mid-April 2015. The compound with a total area of 4,200 square meters was built on the territory that formerly belonged to the French meteorological service Meteo-France. The spiritual center will incorporate an Orthodox church, a library and a center where ethnic Russians will be able meet, while French people will have a chance to learn about the Orthodox culture. Besides, a French-Russian primary school will be opened there.