The French Polynesian government is seeking French support in a bid to get the islands of Nuku Hiva and Hiva Oa in the Marquesas group inscribed as Unesco world heritage sites.
The French Polynesian culture and heritage minister, Joseph Kaiha, is in Paris and has met Unesco officials to discuss the project.
He is also due to meet a senior official in the French culture ministry this week to raise the bid which in a first instance needs to ne endorsed by a French commission.
Mr Kaiha says in a further step, he would like the Marquesas islands as a whole to be recognised as a heritage site.
The mountainous islands are the most distant from a continental landmass.
