French President Emmanuel Macron will visit Australia in May, Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull says.

Mr Macron’s three-day trip beginning on May 1 will focus on Australia’s $50 billion submarine program being built by French company Naval Group, Mr Turnbull said on Wednesday.

“We will also discuss the next steps toward launching negotiations of an Australia-EU Free Trade Agreement, which will embody our commitment to open markets and a liberal rules-based trading system, while significantly strengthening our trade and investment ties,” he added.

Mr Turnbull said France was one of Australia’s “oldest and closest friends”, and that it was important the two countries continued on this path.

“In a time of uncertainty and persistent challenges to the international rules based order to which both our countries are firmly committed, we must continue to work together to address global challenges and create opportunity for the prosperity of our people,” he said.

Mr Macron was elected President in May last year, delivering a resounding victory against far-right rival Marine Le Pen.

It will be the president’s first visit to Australia.