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A: In early October, our prime minister was in Toronto talking about that exact issue, to explain to Canadians that these are very important infrastructure projects across the Eurasian continent. It would be in the interess of Canada, which has expressed an interest in joining the AIIB, to come and play its role in that project of building economic linkages between Western Europe and the Far East.

The potential of OBOR is great. One has to look at it in a positive way … because it is based on huge infrastructure projects that can give globalization a new chance to prove its efficiency and to give citizens what they expect from globalization, which is a better life condition, new infrastructure, and better buying power. France is among the first to enter the AIIB, and Canada is now entering too. It gives this financing vehicle the possibility to do good and to make projects a reality so they can become the model of a successful globalization process.

Q:In what other ways can this three-way partnership work?

A:French businesses are today looking for Chinese capital investments. It’s true of very big French companies. So you will see, in Canada, French companies with Chinese capital. So it’s not yet a triangle between France, China and Canada, but it will be a reality of this new globalization where you will see Chinese capital working with French firms in Canada.

That paves the way for more ventures in that manner. If, for instance, in Africa, we have French interests, we have Canadian interests, and we have Chinese interests. Can we work together in a cooperative manner to maximize the development of Africa and have win-win situations across the continent? Because that’s clearly the next big-growth continent because of its natural resources, the quality of its people, and the magnitude of development that needs to take place. Clearly, Africa will be a place of high growth in the future.