KINSHASA, Dem. Rep. Congo - A day after Quebec's separatist education minister referred to English as a "foreign language" in the province, Premier Pauline Marois continued to shun English - even on foreign soil.

When Marois emerged from a first-ever face-to-face meeting with Prime Minister Stephen Harper on the sidelines of the Francophonie summit, she ignored English-speaking media camped out at the hotel where the meeting took place.

"Good meeting," said Marois before a press aide stepped in to swat away the microphone of a reporter who dared ask for English comment.

However, Marois was happy to tell French-speaking reporters from Quebec all about her meeting with Harper.

"Very positive, very cordial," she said of her meeting in French. "I would say almost warm."

In their half-hour meeting, Harper and Marois talked about job creation, Canada-European Union free trade negotiations and economic diversification.

Marois also warned Harper that Quebec would be asking for the devolution of some powers from the feds, but they agreed to leave the specifics for another day.

Harper was in no mood to speak with the media after the meeting.

Most world leaders staying at the newly-opened Fleuve Congo Hotel left through the main doors to head to the summit, but Harper left via a side door to avoid the handful of Canadian reporters.

RCMP officers guarding the prime minister had to run to catch up to the motorcade as it sped toward the gates guarded by heavily armed soldiers and police officers.