QUEBEC — French Prime Minister Manuel Valls reaffirmed his support for a free trade agreement between the European Union and Canada on Friday, saying he hopes it is ratified soon.
Valls has been on an official visit to Quebec with Premier Philippe Couillard since Wednesday, part of the 19th annual meeting between French and Quebec premiers, a tradition started in 1977 by Premier René Lévesque.
“With persuasion, we will convince our Wallonian friends,” Valls said of the region of southern Belgium that has expressed hesitation about the proposed agreement.
Valls’s trip to Quebec has given him and Couillard a chance to sign a series of agreements to collaborate, including some encouraging more labour mobility through the recognition of degrees. The meeting also made official the Institut maritime France-Québec in Rimouski.
Valls, who started the day with a walk along the streets of Old Quebec with Couillard, also met with Jean-François Lisée, the new leader of the Parti Québécois.
