Quebec can help France in “many areas,” such as “research,” “AI” or “strategy,” according to French President Emmanuel Macron.
These are the few words he said to the media when he welcomed the premier of Quebec, Christine Fréchette, at the Élysée Palace on Monday.
“Quebec is always welcome,” he added.
A few minutes earlier, Fréchette met with French Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu in Matignon.
The meeting also provided an opportunity for Investissement Québec to renew its mutual agreement with Business France. This agreement aims to support Quebec companies in France and French companies in Quebec.
Earlier on Monday, Fréchette championed Quebec as a “trusted partner” of France and Europe in the important and strategic mineral sector, while participating in a series of discussions with representatives of the French government and economic stakeholders. The event was hosted by the Quebec delegation in Paris.
The prime minister praised Quebec’s “huge assets” in terms of valuable minerals.
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“First of all, we have resources on the soil of Quebec. So, the most important thing: we have the largest share of important minerals and techniques in Canada. A good part of them. We have 28 in total,” he stressed.
The prime minister said he wants to develop the sector in a “sustainable” and “responsible” way, highlighting Quebec’s clean energy.
As Europe plans to invest 800 billion euros to reactivate it, the government is hoping Quebec will come out on top and get its share of defense contracts.
According to Fréchette, precious minerals are “vital” in “an age marked by global change.”
“We are in a period where spending related to defense and important minerals and strategies will increase. This is the case here in Europe, but it is also the case in Canada, with the desire to increase the contribution to the NATO budget up to five percent. Therefore, this will lead to a large spending related to defense,” explained the Prime Minister.
The minister of international relations and la Francophonie, Christopher Skeete, and the general representative of Quebec in Paris, Henri-Paul Rousseau, were also present at this round table.
This is Fréchette’s second goal abroad. He visited Washington a few weeks ago.
The Prime Minister is in Paris until May 20.
© 2026 The Canadian Press
