NOUMEA, July 23 (AFP) - President Jacques Chirac arrived Wednesday in New Caledonia for a three-day trip to the French Pacific territory and was met with protests by trade unionists.

Chirac, who just ended a visit to Malaysia, is accompanied by the minister for overseas territories, Brigitte Girardin.

Hundreds of trade unionists held a protest demonstration in Noumea, criticising Chirac for having approved of nuclear testing in the French Pacific and for jailing the French anti-globalisation activist Jose Bove.

Chirac was expected to meet parliamentarians from New Caledonia and make a speech in central Noumea.

On Thursday he is expected to meet a gathering of youths in the territory and the widow of Jean-Marie Tjibaou, a pro-independence leader who was assassinated in 1989.

On Friday, he will go to the northern province which is governed by a pro-independence group, and discuss a nickel mining project.

Following his stay in New Caledonia, he will visit French Polynesia until July 28.

Chirac last visited the territory in 1987 when he was prime minister in a "cohabitation" arrangement with socialist president Francois Mitterrand.

On September 17 of that year he managed a lightning tour of Noumea, travelling on the now-retired Concorde.

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NCaledonia-Chirac

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