Hun Manet posted a photo with President Emmanuel Macron highlighting France and Cambodia as "strategic partners." Macron confirmed his participation in the upcoming Francophone multilateral summit hosted by Cambodia this November, which will be a key element in strengthening bilateral relations.
Hun Manet, Cambodia's Prime Minister, shared a photo with French President Emmanuel Macron on Facebook, stating:
"I thank President Emmanuel Macron for the warm welcome and successful discussions to enhance the bilateral relationship between our two countries, especially preparations to elevate Cambodia-France ties to a future "strategic partnership."
I very much look forward to officially welcoming the President to the Kingdom of Cambodia and his participation in the 20th Francophone Summit, which Cambodia will host in November 2026."
Cambodian media reported that French President Emmanuel Macron expressed confidence that the 20th Francophonie Summit, to be hosted by Cambodia later this year, will be a crucial mechanism to advance the longstanding relationship between Cambodia and France to a new level.
Following Hun Manet's meeting in Paris on Wednesday, the French leader stated, "After the Villers-Cotterêts Summit in 2024, the next meeting will be held in Phnom Penh. I am very pleased to attend in November. This will be another important opportunity to strengthen the bonds that unite us."
President Macron also thanked Prime Minister Hun Manet for attending the One Health Summit in Lyon and their discussions in Paris, emphasizing that the history between Cambodia and France is deeply rooted and that cooperation continues to expand in key areas such as energy, public health, and cultural heritage preservation.
Cambodia is preparing to host the 20th Francophonie Summit on 15-16 November in Phnom Penh, marking a significant diplomatic event as it will be the second time in nearly 30 years that the summit is held in Southeast Asia, following Hanoi, Vietnam, in 1997. This reflects Cambodia's increasing role on the global stage.
Currently, Cambodia is one of 90 states and governments that are members of the International Organization of La Francophonie (OIF), which includes 53 full members, 5 associate members, and 32 observers, with an estimated 396 million French speakers worldwide.
/sourceHun Manet/Khmer Times