AKP Phnom Penh, April 26, 2026 --

Preparations for the 20th Francophonie Summit, scheduled to take place in Phnom Penh from Nov. 15 to 16, 2026, are progressing well, according to a senior official.

H.E. Luy David, Cambodian Ambassador to France and Vice President of the Political Committee of the Organisation internationale de la Francophonie (OIF), shared on social media that the working group is currently preparing a draft declaration for the summit.

“A working meeting with the OIF team and France to advance the draft Declaration of the 20th Francophonie Summit, scheduled for November in Phnom Penh, has been held,” he said.

According to H.E. Luy David, the Declaration Drafting Committee – chaired by France, with Cambodia serving as Vice Chair – is working closely with the OIF to ensure the successful preparation of the summit.

“As stated by His Majesty the King of Cambodia: In 2026, the Khmer smile will be the smile of Francophonie,” he emphasised.

H.E. Luy David added that Cambodia and the OIF are fully committed to making the 20th Summit a historic and successful event.

Regarding the summit, H.E. Olivier Richard, French Ambassador to Cambodia, recently told the Agence Kampuchea Press (AKP) that Cambodia is making every effort to ensure the success of the gathering.

“The Francophonie Summit will be an opportunity to establish new cooperation between Cambodia and the French-speaking world,” he said.

The ambassador added that Cambodia is preparing to welcome the return of the event to the Asia-Pacific region after the 6th summit, held in Vietnam in 1997.

He also noted that the Francophonie community is built on friendship and solidarity while offering strong economic and trade opportunities, representing 16 percent of global GDP and 20 percent of global trade.

Prime Minister Samdech Moha Borvor Thipadei Hun Manet recently informed French President H.E. Emmanuel Macron during a meeting in France about Cambodia’s preparations to host the summit under the theme: “Reinvesting in Peace for Shared Prosperity and Lasting Stability.”

Samdech Thipadei highlighted Cambodia’s ambition to strengthen the role of the Francophonie in the Asia-Pacific region and promote cooperation in youth, innovation, and the economy.

The Prime Minister also expressed his readiness to welcome the French President on a state visit to Cambodia and to attend the summit, describing it as a historic occasion that would further strengthen the strategic partnership between the two countries.

Cambodia is one of the 90 member states of the OIF, which comprises 53 full members, five associate members, and 32 observer countries. Worldwide, an estimated 296 million people speak and use French.

By Heng Panha