Phnom penh: French President H.E. Emmanuel Macron is scheduled to visit Cambodia in 2026, when the Kingdom hosts the 20th Francophonie Summit, according to outgoing French Ambassador H.E. Jacques Pellet.
According to Agence Kampuchea Presse, during his farewell visit to Senate President Samdech Akka Moha Sena Padei Techo Hun Sen at the Senate Palace in Phnom Penh this morning, H.E. Jacques Pellet reaffirmed France’s full support for Cambodia as the summit host and confirmed that President Macron has prioritised his visit to coincide with the occasion.
The Ambassador reiterated France’s continued commitment to deepening bilateral cooperation across a wide range of sectors, including medicine, law, economy, trade, education, defense, clean water, and heritage preservation, as well as through the Francophonie framework. He also expressed optimism for expanding collaboration, noting the significant potential for further strengthening ties between the two nations.
For his part, Samdech Techo Hun Sen expressed gratitude for the long-standing friendship and cooperation between Cambodia and France. He recalled his previous official visit to France during his premiership and welcomed the continued enhancement of bilateral relations. He commended the upcoming Francophonie Summit, which marks the return of the summit to the Asia-Pacific region for the first time in 29 years, since it was last hosted in Vietnam in 1997. He emphasised its importance in promoting and preserving the French language.
Regarding bilateral cooperation, the Senate President proposed strengthening collaboration in areas that support the promotion of the French language, particularly in health, law, and French language education. On the issue of border tensions with Thailand, Samdech Techo Hun Sen briefed the Ambassador on Cambodia’s position, reaffirming its commitment to resolving the matter peacefully through bilateral mechanisms and through the International Court of Justice. He also requested France’s assistance in providing historical documents related to the Cambodia-Siam border, which could be useful in resolving the ongoing border dispute.