The head of France's centre-right Republicans will go to New Caledonia in September - less than two months before the referendum on independence from France.
Laurent Wauquiez spoke out against the comments made by the French president Emmanuel Macron during his visit to Noumea in May.
Laurent Wauquiez Photo: Wikimedia Commons
Mr Macron said France would not be the same without New Caledonia.
Mr Wauquiez, however, called on the president to come out clearly for New Caledonia to stay French.
The leader of the Republicans will visit New Caledonia between September 4 and 11.
Opinion polls suggest a majority will vote to stay with France.
No French party has expressed outright support for New Caledonia's pro-independence camp.
In the last independence referendum in 1987 more than 98 percent voted against independence.
