19th Francophonie Summit Opens in Villers-Cotterêts and Paris

French President Emmanuel Macron formally inaugurated the 19th Francophonie Summit on Friday, welcoming heads of state, government ministers, and delegations from across the 88 member nations of the Organisation Internationale de la Francophonie.

The high-level diplomatic gathering commenced at the newly restored Château de Villers-Cotterêts—the historic birthplace of King Francis I's 1539 ordinance establishing French as the kingdom's official legal language—before moving to the Grand Palais in Paris.

Inauguration at the Historic Cradle of the Modern French Language

Organized under the central motto 'Create, Innovate, and Do Business in French', the two-day summit marks the first time in 33 years that France has hosted the biennial conference, highlighting the language's role in global digital commerce.

Plenary sessions are dedicated to advancing Francophone artificial intelligence initiatives, enhancing youth vocational training, and expanding preferential trade partnerships between African, European, and American member economies.

“French is a living, global language of dialogue, creation, and innovation that connects 320 million speakers across five continents while championing universal cultural diversity and human dignity.” — Emmanuel Macron, President of the French Republic

Fostering Digital Sovereignty and Multilateral Trade Across Continents

Beyond cultural diplomacy, participating leaders are engaging in intensive bilateral discussions regarding regional security crises, with special focus on peacekeeping and democratic transitions across the Sahel, Central Africa, and Lebanon.

Secretary-General Louise Mushikiwabo emphasized that with more than 320 million Francophones worldwide, the summit offers a vital platform to defend multilateralism and ensure cultural plurilingualism in the international architecture.

Sources

• Organisation Internationale de la Francophonie (OIF)
• Élysée Palace