Above: Francois Hollande (left) and Serge Letchimy (middle right) at the Elysee Palace

By the Caribbean Journal staff

France President Francois Hollande will preside over a major climate conference in Martinique next month.

That was among the revelations following a meeting between Hollande and Serge Letchimy, president of Martinique’s regional council.

Hollande will be joined by 20 heads of state and government from around the Caribbean at the conference, which aims to “allow the expression of a Caribbean position on climate change,” according to a statement from Letchimy’s office.

The talks between Letchimy and Hollande focused on a number of other issues, from a “renewal” of French interaction in the Caribbean to the continued issue of inter-connectivity between the islands.

Letchimy stressed his philosophy of “territorial diplomacy,” which has been a major point on the agenda during his tenure.

The latter led to the first-ever visit by a Martinique top official to a CARICOM Summit in St Vincent earlier this year, and an ongoing focus on regional issues.

Hollande’s visit to Martinique will be part of a wider regional tour that is also slated to include a trip to Haiti.