France's President Nicolas Sarkozy is favorable to an "ambitious economic partnership" between the European Union and Canada, he said going into a Canada-EU summit Friday.
   
Sarkozy, whose country holds the revolving EU presidency, is in Quebec City for Canada-EU trade talks and a summit of French-speaking nations.
   
He and European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso were to meet with Canada's newly re-elected Prime Minister Stephen Harper midday.
   
In an interview published in the daily National Post, Sarkozy said: "I'm part of a group of leaders pushing for a more ambitious economic partnership with Canada. The October 17 summit will provide a decisive impetus in this direction."
   
"France will also conclude an important accord with Quebec to recognize our respective professional qualifications. This agreement should serve as a model for the rest of Canada and EU member states," he said.
   
Friday's 12th Francophonie summit includes leaders from some 30 French-speaking nations and is to focus on four main themes: the environment, the economy, democracy and the rule of law, and the struggles of the French language itself.
   
On Saturday Sarkozy heads for the United States, where he will meet his US counterpart George W. Bush at Camp David.