Canada’s ambassador to the U.S., Mike Wilson (left), discusses the alliance with David Wilkins, the U.S. ambassador to Canada.

Gov. Sonny Perdue shakes hands with Quebec Premier Jean Charest as Tennessee Gov. Phil Bredesen looks on.

The Sarah Bernhardt banquet hall at the Intercontinental Hotel in Montreal provided a dramatic setting for the signing ceremony of the Southeastern United States-Canadian Provincial Alliance Nov. 16.

Co-chaired by Georgia Gov. Sonny Perdue and Quebec Premier Jean Charest, government officials from the six southeastern states and the seven Canadian central and eastern provinces filled the 2,400-square-foot hall.

When media representatives with their cameras and film equipment were allowed into the space named after one of the 19th century’s best-known actresses, the signings took on a theatrical dimension as the officials posed for their local newspapers and television stations.

Mr. Perdue slipped out quickly after signing the first of the documents, and Ken Stewart, the commissioner of the Georgia Department of Economic Development, took his seat next to Mr. Charest. Mr. Stewart and Mr. Charest seemed to get along well as they signed the swirl of documents that came their way.

Michael Wilson, Canadian ambassador to the U.S., and David H. Wilkins, the U.S. ambassador to Canada, spoke together quietly as they watched the proceedings. Dennis P. Lockhart, the president of the Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta, who had given a speech earlier, also looked on nearby.

Craig Lesser, former commissioner of the Georgia Department of Economic Development who had been involved in the early stages of the negotiations establishing the alliance, sat behind the head table appearing elated by the successful conclusion of the proceedings. Brian Oak, the Atlanta-based Canadian consul general for the Southeast was next to him.

Heidi Green, the vice commissioner of the Georgia economic development department, also attended the ceremony as did Chris Young, Georgia’s chief of protocol.

Throughout the two-day event, it was pretty clear that Georgia and Quebec’s officials had taken the lead in launching the alliance.

Following the signing ceremony, Mr. Charest credited Mr. Perdue with initiating the effort based on the success that the Southeast’s alliance with Japan has had over the past 30 years, which had been initiated by former Georgia Gov. George Busbee.

Ken Stewart, the commissioner of the Georgia Department of Economic Development, is flanked by his predecessor, Craig Lesser (left) and Brian Oak (right), Canada’s consul general in Atlanta.

Dennis Lockhart (right), president of the Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta, attended the signing ceremony.

Mr. Perdue and Mr. Charest dominated the press conference that followed the ceremony while Tennessee’s governor, Phil Bredesen, seemed comfortable enough standing next to Mr. Charest without saying a word.

Mr. Charest stressed the point that unlike Canada’s political alliances with northeastern states, this one was to focus on the development of commercial relations and the politicians would soon step out of the way.

Only the governors of Georgia and Tennessee attended the event.

The officials representing the other four Southeastern states involved were Neal Wade, senior economic officer, Alabama; Gray Swoope, executive director, Mississippi Development Authority; Anthony Copeland, assistant secretary of commerce, North Carolina and Joe E. Taylor Jr., secretary of commerce, South Carolina.

Robert W. J. Ghiz, premier of Prince Edward Island, and Gary Doer, premier of Manitoba and Shawn Grahama, premier of New Brunswick, were the three premiers joining Mr. Charest.

Others representing Canadian provinces partaking in the alliance were Sandra Pupatello, minister of economic development and commerce, Ontario; James Muir, minister of services and municipal relations, Nova Scotia and Trevor Taylor, minister of innovation, trade an rural development, Newfoundland and Labrador.