On Friday 9 June 2006, the French Prime-Minister, Dominique de Villepin, visited the future ITER construction site. The Prime Minister was accompanied by the Minister for Research, Francois Goulard, and the Minister for Culture, Renaud Donnedieu de Vabres. Many local politicians were present during the visit.

The Prime Minister was welcomed by Ambassador Kaname Ikeda, Nominee Director General of ITER. Ambassador Ikeda showed the Prime Minister around the site and introduced the Prime Minister to the ITER International Team staff on site. Ambassador Ikeda thanked the Prime Minister for the efforts of the French government in hosting ITER.

The Prime Minister expressed how proud the French government was to be able to host ITER, a model for international collaboration, and that the ITER project was very important in order to have fusion as a possible energy source for the future.

After the ITER site the Prime Minister visited Tore Supra and answered questions from the international press.