The President of New Caledonia's Congress Roch Wamytan has welcomed plans to ease trade between New Zealand and the French territory.
The French President Harold Martin and New Zealand's Foreign Minister Murray McCully have announced plans to liberalise trade and boost diplomatic ties.
The Kanak leader says it's an important and natural relationship to develop.
"We have a potential here, in the human resources, on the natural resources. It is important to develop the relations and trade with our neighbours, New Zealand and Australia, and the Melanesian countries."
