Hello, everyone. Good afternoon, everyone.

I am very, very happy to be able to host my friend, Emmanuel, President Macron, here in Canada, but especially to welcome him here in my hometown of Montréal. We will also be seeing each other again a week from now at the Sommet de la Francophonie in Paris and, through conversations like the ones we had today, we see how well the interests and priorities of our two countries align.

One of the priorities we talked about today was the development of artificial intelligence. Canada and France have worked together on this for a long time, especially on the responsible development of this technology. And it works out well: Montréal is already a global hub for the development of responsible artificial intelligence.

We have made great strides in this area: we were the first country to develop a national AI strategy; we are a global reference in terms of research and governance, where we have made enormous investments to help our universities; we have the largest concentration of AI start-ups in the world; and the leading experts in AI are here. Montréal and Paris are home … are also home to the first two expert support centres under the Global Partnership on Artificial Intelligence, which now has 29 member countries … 29 members.

The development of artificial intelligence could revolutionize our economies, but, as I said, this development must be done responsibly. Over the past few weeks, I have also had the chance to talk about all this potential and its related dangers with Yoshua Bengio, a global expert in this area who have been working in Montréal for a very long time.

As artificial intelligence continues to fundamentally change how our societies function, we must ensure that people in Canada, in France, and around the world benefit from this technology, but in a responsible framework, a framework that ensures that AI technologies respect the rule of law, human rights, and democratic values. If developed thoughtfully, AI can enhance productivity and reduce inequality, but that can only be achieved through smart policy developed in partnership with our friends and allies.

Canada and France are working together to meet these goals. We will continue our partnership in a variety of ways, like at the AI Action Summit, which will be held in France in February; the upcoming Viva Technology conference in Paris, where Canada will be the Country of the Year; initiatives on AI security led by the Canadian AI Safety Institute; and, of course, our successive G7 presidencies—Canada next year and France the year after—where, many years ago, we also launched the Global Partnership on Artificial Intelligence.

The rate of technological development also influences another critical issue for our two countries: defence and security. That is why we will engage in more dialogue to improve our responses to international crises and conflicts, to attempts at foreign interference, to disinformation campaigns, and to cybersecurity threats, which are unfortunately increasing.

That starts, first and foremost, with the defence of Ukraine in the face of Russian aggression. That’s why France and Canada are committed to working hand-in-hand to help train Ukrainian soldiers, notably fighter pilots, to help Ukraine protect itself from cybersecurity threats, and to provide Ukraine with all the vital military aid it needs to win this war. We’re also committing to partnering in the Indo-Pacific region, whether it’s cooperating on strategic and military analysis or working towards deploying joint patrol missions.

Together, we will contribute to stability and security in the Indo-Pacific region, and ensure the respect of international law and the sovereignty of countries in the region. Of course, the President and I also discussed the situation in the Middle East, especially the latest developments in Lebanon. The escalation of tensions we are now seeing: devastating. We call on all parties to do everything possible to protect civilian populations and allow humanitarian aid to get to those who need it. I want to be clear: it is absolutely essential to reach an immediate cease-fire.

These days, when addressing security issues, we cannot avoid the subject of climate change. Rising sea levels, the increasing number of climate-related disasters, and a warming Arctic pose new challenges for our infrastructures and our armed forces. That is why the work that Canada and France are doing in this regard is so important. Our two countries are sponsoring nations of the NATO Climate Change and Security Centre of Excellence, which is based here in Montréal. And, as Canada increases its presence in the Arctic, we will have France’s support in Operation NANOOK, our key operation in the region.

We’re adapting to this new climate change reality and, at the same time, we’re acting to protect the environment. Together, we’re stepping up to address ocean pollution and the consequences of climate change.

The better protect oceans, we need to better understand them. Our two countries will therefore work together to increase our knowledge, and to encourage innovation through several partnerships. I am thinking of the partnership between IFREMER and Université Laval, of the France-Québec Institute for Scientific Cooperation in Support of the Maritime Sector, of the partnership between Parks Canada and the French Office for Biodiversity, and the Franco-Canadian platform In2novation.

Canada and France are both working on the front line to address today’s challenges. By working together, we are doubling the impact we can have on the international stage. And, in addition to the deep friendship between Canada and France, the people of Canada and the people of France, I can also count on the friendship that we have developed, me and Emmanuel, over the years, united by our commitment, not only to our citizens, but to the world in extremely difficult times. It is an incredible pleasure to work alongside you as we build a better world for all. Thank you, my dear friend.