Quebec may help France in “many areas,” similar to “research,” “AI” and even “strategy,” in line with French President Emmanuel Macron.
These were the few words he addressed to the press when he welcomed the premier of Quebec, Christine Fréchette, to the Élysée Palace on Monday.
“Quebec is at all times welcome,” he added.
A number of minutes earlier, Fréchette met with French Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu at Matignon.
This meeting also provided a chance for Investissement Québec to renew a reciprocal agreement with Business France. This agreement goals to support Quebec corporations in France and French corporations in Quebec.
Earlier on Monday, Fréchette championed Quebec as a “trusted partner” for France and Europe within the critical and strategic minerals sector, while participating in a roundtable discussion with representatives of the French government and economic stakeholders. The event was held on the Quebec delegation in Paris.
The premier touted Quebec’s “great assets” by way of critical minerals.
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“First, we now have the resources in Quebec soil. So, a vital element: we now have the most important share of critical and strategic minerals in Canada. A superb portion of them. We’ve got 28 in total,” she emphasized.
The premier stated that she desired to develop this sector in a “sustainable” and “responsible” way, highlighting Quebec’s clean energy.
With Europe planning to speculate 800 billion euros to rearm, the federal government hopes that Quebec will come out on top and acquire its share of defence contracts.
In line with Fréchette, strategic minerals have “strategic importance” in an “era marked by geopolitical upheaval.”
“We’re in a period where spending related to defence and significant and strategic minerals will increase. That is the case here in Europe, but it’s also the case in Canada, with a desire to boost the contribution to the NATO budget as much as five per cent. So, this may end in colossal spending related to defence,” the premier explained.
The minister of diplomacy and la Francophonie, Christopher Skeete, and the delegate general of Quebec in Paris, Henri-Paul Rousseau, were also present at this roundtable.
That is Fréchette’s second mission abroad. She visited Washington just a few weeks ago.
The premier is in Paris until May 20.
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