Premier Jean Charest has arrived in Paris for a three-day trip to the French capital.
Officially he is marking the 50th anniversary of Quebec's General Delegation in France, but the premier is also taking advantage of the trip to promote the Northern Plan for mining development, and several french authorities are taking an interest.
Charest will be taking part in an official ceremony including a military parade at Les Invalides, a veteran's hospital and site of military monuments including Napoleon's tomb, where he will meet French Prime Minister Francois Fillon.
There is no official meeting scheduled between Charest and French President Nicolas Sarkozy, who in 2009 decorated Charest as a commander of the Legion d'Honneur.
Charest is being joined on this trip by Monique Gagnon-Tremblay, minister for International Relations and the Francophonie.
The pair will unveil plaques at Place du Quebec and at Quebec House to mark the 50th anniversary of the General Delegation.
Charest will also take part in a session on French-Quebec cooperation with several French cabinet ministers.
With files from The Canadian Press
