International relations
2026 | Namur and Quebec City strengthen their cooperation during the AIMF Bureau meeting
On the occasion of the 107th Bureau meeting of the International Association of Francophone Mayors (AIMF), the City of Namur welcomed a delegation from Quebec City, led by Mayor Bruno Marchand, accompanied by an economic mission from Québec International bringing together several Quebec-based companies, as well as a delegation from Université Laval. The visit provided an opportunity to strengthen exchanges between Namur and Quebec City on institutional, economic, academic and cultural projects.
A 2026–2029 cooperation agreement signed in Namur
One of the highlights of the visit was the signing, on 9 June 2026, of the new 2026–2029 cooperation agreement between the City of Namur and Quebec City.
The agreement focuses on three main areas:
- the sharing of knowledge, expertise and innovation in support of public policies;
- culture, creativity and the Francophonie;
- heritage, memory and transmission, through the cooperation agreement between the Citadel of Namur and the Citadel of Quebec City.
This agreement confirms the two cities’ commitment to pursuing practical cooperation for the benefit of their citizens.
Release of the Namec vinyl, the result of an electronic music residency between Namur and Quebec City
The visit was also marked by the release of the Namec vinyl, the result of an electronic music co-creation residency bringing together two artists from Namur and Quebec City.
The project brings together Namur-based artist Antoine Moureaux (Aemone) and Quebec-based artist Loup Ferschke (LOU FRE$H). Born out of an initial meeting at the KIKK Festival in 2024, this collaborative project developed through an artistic residency between the two cities, with the support of Le Delta and L’Ampli de Québec. The project also received support from Wallonie-Bruxelles International.
The project benefited from the institutional support of both cities, enabling the production and distribution of the Namec EP, with 500 copies pressed by the City of Namur.
La Célestine library, a bridge between Namur and Quebec City
As part of the visit, the Mayor of Quebec City also visited La Célestine library, a venue inspired in particular by Quebec’s experience and designed as a space for culture, encounters, social connection and community life.
La Célestine houses a miniature reproduction of the artwork Fleuves, installed at the Gabrielle-Roy Library in Quebec City. Created by the Namur-based studio Superbe in 2023, the artwork was presented by the City of Namur to Quebec City as part of the twinning partnership that has linked the two cities since 1999. The work is also accompanied by the poem amoures, co-written by authors Vanessa Bell and Perrine Estienne as part of a cross-residency between the Maison de la Littérature in Quebec City and the Maison de la Poésie in Namur.
Discussions on economic and commercial attractiveness
The Quebec City delegation also took part in a working session dedicated to Namur’s economic and commercial attractiveness.
The session brought together Charlotte Bazelaire, Acting Mayor of the City of Namur, Anne Barzin, First Alderwoman responsible for International Relations, and Charlotte Déom, Alderwoman for Tourism, Economic and Commercial Development.
Presentations were given by:
- Carl Viel, President and Chief Executive Officer of Québec International;
- Frank Marchal, Head of the Urban Attractiveness and Commercial Development Unit of the City of Namur;
- Stéphanie Bonmariage, Head of Unit within the Economic Development Department of the Economic Development Agency of the Province of Namur (BEP).
These discussions provided an opportunity to share practices and strategies in the field of territorial development.
Ferme du Grand Feu, an example of a sustainable agricultural project in Bouge
The visit continued with a tour of the Ferme du Grand Feu, located on the heights of the city, illustrating how the City has made use of part of its publicly owned land to enable the development of a sustainable, resilient and cooperative agricultural project supporting local food production and the ecological transition.
This series of meetings and projects highlights the depth and richness of the relationship between the Cities of Namur and Quebec City, built on institutional, cultural, heritage, academic and economic cooperation, as well as shared values and a common commitment to developing concrete projects for the benefit of their territories and citizens.
