The president of the French Senate is due in New Caledonia at the end of February.
President of the French Senate Gerard Larcher Photo: AFP
The visit of Gerard Larcher is being described as a sign of the Senate's willingness to share in the preparations of New Caledonia's 2018 referendum on possible independence.
Mr Larcher is due to meet all the signatories of the 1998 Noumea Accord as well as stakeholders be they customary, social or economic.
The French Senate has also set up an informal group to be briefed about the situation in the territory, with the first gathering looking at the situation of the nickel industry.
Mr Larcher is also due to visit Wallis and Futuna.
