At the invitation of the Government of New Caledonia, the 7th meeting of the Network of Structures and Institutions in charge of Francophonie in Asia-Pacific (RESIFAP) was organized in Noumea, New Caledonia, from 16 to 17 September 2022, under the chairmanship of His Excellency Dr. CHHIV Yiseang, Secretary of State of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, National Correspondent of Cambodia to the OIF, and current President of RESIFAP, with the participation of Mrs. Tran Thi Mai Yen, Regional representative a.i. of the OIF in Asia-Pacific, the national correspondents of Vietnam, Laos, New Caledonia, Vanuatu, and representatives of the Center for International Meetings and Exchanges in the Pacific (CREIPAC) and High-Commissioner of the French Republic to New Caledonia. The national correspondent of South Korea participated actively by videoconference. Thailand was absent due to reason of time constraints.
On this occasion, the participants were able to discuss the main objectives of the meeting: to make an assessment of actions in the framework of Francophonie in each RESIFAP member since the 2nd consultation in March 2021, to discuss the impact of the global crisis and the responses provided in the socioeconomic context, and to discuss the development of regional strategies to be implemented to promote Francophonie for the period 2023-2026.
The participants supported with satisfaction the initiative to organize the Youth Forum of French-speaking in the Asia-Pacific in 2023-2024, given the fact that young people represent the future of Francophonie. Regarding the renewal of the presidency of RESIFAP, for lack of volunteerism expressed by the other members, Cambodia, in the person of His Excellency Dr. CHHIV Yiseang, volunteered to assume this presidency for a 4th term (2023- 2024).
RESIFAP members have proposed to Laos to examine the possibility of hosting the 8th meeting in 2023. The proposal will be forwarded to the government of Laos.
On the sidelines of the 7th RESIFAP meeting, the participants had three formal meetings respectively with the President of the Government of New Caledonia at the headquarter of government, the President of the Customary Senate and the diplomatic adviser, representing the high-commissioner of the Republic of France. During these meetings, the President of RESIFAP and the regional representative a.i. underlined the importance of the network, the objective of which is to identify regional priorities in the framework of Francophonie, to strengthen the image and visibility of Francophonie in the region and to promote the region in Francophonie.
Three visits were also organized in honor of the RESIFAP delegation to the Tjibaou Cultural Center, the University of New Caledonia and CREIPAC.
