French President Hollande set for 2014 Australia visit

SYDNEY (AFP) - Francois Hollande is set to become the first French president to undertake a state visit to Australia when he travels Down Under in late 2014, Australia's Governor-General Quentin Bryce said.

Ms Bryce met Mr Hollande at the Elysee Palace, the official residence of the French President, on Monday and invited him to make the trip before or after the G20 meeting in Brisbane in November 2014.

"This would be the first state visit by a French president," the governor-general's office said in a statement.

"The governor-general issued an invitation to the president to undertake a state visit before or after the G20 meeting in Brisbane.

"The president was delighted and said he anticipated he would be able to visit in November 2014."

Ms Bryce is leading an economic mission to Europe, and said the fact that the first stop was France "reflects the dynamic bilateral business and investment relationship" between the countries.

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