Cambodia is firmly committed to ensuring the successful hosting of the 20th Francophonie Summit next week, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation H.E. Prak Sokhonn said.
In a special interview released today, the Cambodian top diplomat described the summit as one of the largest and most significant international events ever to be hosted by the Kingdom.
He said thousands of delegates would gather in Phnom Penh over the coming days to attend the 20th Francophonie Summit and its various accompanying events.
To date, 79 of the 90 expected delegations have confirmed their participation, with more than 1,000 delegates expected to attend, according to the Deputy Prime Minister.
The confirmed participants include 20 Heads of State and Government, while 21 delegations will be led by deputy prime ministers, ministers and undersecretaries of state.
“The Democratic Republic of the Congo, an African nation with a population of more than 100 million, has the largest delegation, comprising approximately 211 members. Vietnam is sending more than 150 delegates, while Canada is expected to participate with 124 representatives […],” he said.
Beyond the summit itself, the FrancoTech event has attracted approximately 4,600 participants, while a Francophone entrepreneurs’ meeting is expected to bring together around 1,200 entrepreneurs and business representatives from 72 countries.
Another major attraction will be the Francophonie Village, which will showcase a wide range of products, cultural performances, tourism attractions and culinary traditions from participating countries.
These events will provide participating countries with opportunities to promote their national products, cultural heritage, tourism potential and traditional cuisine, while encouraging cultural exchanges and business connections among Francophone communities, H.E. Prak Sokhonn said.
The Deputy Prime Minister also highlighted logistics, hospitality and security as key priorities, stressing that careful preparations and coordinated arrangements were underway to ensure the smooth organisation of the summit and its accompanying activities.
Cambodia’s hosting of the 20th Francophonie Summit represents a major international diplomatic undertaking for the Kingdom, providing an important platform to enhance its international profile, deepen cooperation among French-speaking countries and showcase its culture, tourism and economic opportunities to the world, he added.
The International Organisation of La Francophonie (OIF) was established on Mar. 20, 1970, in Niamey, Niger, under the name Agency for Cultural and Technical Cooperation (ACCT). Cambodia is among its founding members, although the Kingdom officially joined the organisation in 1993.
The organisation currently comprises 90 member states and governments, including 53 full members, five associate members and 32 observers.
