The president of French Polynesia, Oscar Temaru, has left on an official visit to Paris, where he's to meet the prime minister, Jean-Pierre Raffarin, and the overseas territories minister, Brigitte Girardin.
The news agency, Tahitipresse, reports Mr Temaru left last night on a promotional Air Tahiti Nui flight to New York, where he'll stay until heading on to Paris on Sunday.
Mr Temaru is to meet allied MPs in the French Socialist party, including the party leader Francois Hollande.
Next week, Mr Temaru is scheduled to hold a private interview with the French prime minister at his official residence, the Hotel Matignon.
Meanwhile, radio reports from Papeete say the opposition's Gaston Flosse, who is French Polynesia's member of the French senate, will also be in Paris next week.
