The Right Honourable Stephen Harper
Prime Minister of Canada

It is an honour for all Canadians to be hosting the forthcoming Francophone Summit in Québec City, from October 17 to 19, 2008.

Canada has played a leading role in expanding the Francophonie’s outreach at the international level, and we actively participated in establishing and developing the first institutions of the Francophonie.

Ever since the first Francophone Summit in Paris, in 1986, the Francophonie has become a key forum for ideas and exchanges for peoples sharing French as a common language.

The 400^th anniversary of the founding of Québec City, which we are also celebrating this year, reminds us that French is Canada’s founding language. Since that date, we truly began to become what we are today, as the founding of Québec City also marks the founding of the Canadian state.

I therefore invite the whole world to come join in this wonderful celebration. We have a saying here that everyone should have two cities in their hearts:  their own, and Québec City.

I want to extend a very warm thank-you to the residents of Québec City, which will be co-hosting the 12^th Summit. I also want to take this opportunity to welcome the delegations from the Francophonie. I hope your stay in Québec City will enable you to discover the different facets of Canada’s Francophone communities, as well as the hospitality of Quebecers.

I wish you all a good Summit.