Prak Sokhonn Meets Francophonie Chief Ahead of Historic Phnom Penh Summit
Prak Sokhonn Meets Francophonie Chief Ahead of Historic Phnom Penh Summit
NEW YORK, Sept. 26, 2026 — Cambodia is stepping up preparations for the 20th Francophonie Summit, with Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Prak Sokhonn holding talks with International Organisation of La Francophonie (OIF) Secretary-General Louise Mushikiwabo in New York to review progress ahead of the November event.
Prak Sokhonn and Mushikiwabo discussed preparations for the summit and major accompanying events during their bilateral meeting on Sept. 25 on the sidelines of the 81st United Nations General Assembly in New York, according to Cambodia’s Foreign Ministry.
Cambodia will host the 20th Francophonie Summit in Phnom Penh on Nov. 15–16, marking the first time the Kingdom has hosted the organisation’s highest-level gathering. The summit will bring together heads of state and government from the Francophone community to discuss political, economic, cultural and educational cooperation.
The summit will be held under the theme “Reinvest in Peace for Shared Prosperity and Lasting Stability.” Cambodia has established a national organising committee and has been coordinating preparations with the OIF on diplomatic protocol, security, communications, logistics and related events.
The programme will also feature two major public-facing and economic side events — the Francophonie Village and FrancoTech.
The Francophonie Village will run from Nov. 13–17 at Wat Botum Vatey Garden in Phnom Penh. Organisers say the five-day event will feature around 90 national pavilions, cultural performances, gastronomy, exhibitions and thematic activities designed to showcase the diversity of the Francophone community.
FrancoTech, meanwhile, will take place from Nov. 14–16 at the Koh Pich Exhibition and Convention Center. The innovation-focused event will bring together businesses, institutions and startups and will feature discussions on areas including artificial intelligence, digital government, financial technology, AgriTech, education technology, women’s innovation and technology for tourism and culture.
The 2026 summit represents a significant milestone for Cambodia’s engagement with the Francophonie. Cambodia has been a full member of the organisation since 1993, and the 2026 gathering will be only the second Francophonie Summit held in Asia, following the 1997 summit in Hanoi.
The OIF and Cambodia formally agreed in 2025 on Cambodia’s hosting of the 20th summit, following the Kingdom’s selection as host at the 2024 Francophonie Summit in Villers-Cotterêts, France.
With preparations continuing, Phnom Penh is expected to become a major meeting point for Francophone leaders, diplomats, cultural representatives, entrepreneurs and technology and business communities in November.
