Closing of the 15th Francophone Summit in Senegal

On November 30, the 15th Summit of Francophone Countries in Dakar (Senegal) ended with the adoption of the Dakar Declaration and many important resolutions.

With the theme "Women and youth in the Francophone Community: drivers of peace, subjects of development," during two working days, leaders focused on discussing measures to prevent and resolve crises and conflicts in the Francophone space, while enhancing the role of women and youth in all aspects of social life.

Vice President Nguyen Thi Doan at the closing ceremony. (Photo: Thong Nhat/VNA)

The leaders also pledged to continue promoting the role and position of the Francophone Community in the international arena, and to increase the Community's contribution to issues of common concern to the international community such as counter-terrorism, climate change, and the Ebola epidemic that is causing great damage and threatening stability in a number of countries in the West African region.

A new point emerging at this Summit is that leaders advocate promoting economic cooperation in the Francophone space.

At the end of the conference, the heads of state and government of the member countries adopted many important documents that provide guidance for the activities of the Francophone Community in the coming time, from the fields of peace, security, linguistic and cultural diversity, education, to economic cooperation and sustainable development, such as the Dakar Declaration, the Francophone Cooperation Strategic Framework for the period 2015-2022, and the Francophone Youth Strategy. In particular, the Conference adopted the Francophone Economic Strategy, creating a basis for activities to promote economic cooperation in the Francophone space in the coming time.

The conference also passed nine resolutions on the crisis and conflicts in some countries and regions, counter-terrorism, education and training, cultural diversity, tourism, health care, and the Ebola epidemic.

The new point is that in the Resolution on preventing crisis, conflict and strengthening peace in the Francophone space, for the first time, the leaders of the States and Governments of Francophone countries mentioned the East Sea issue, expressed deep concern about the situation in the East Sea in recent times, called on relevant parties to exercise maximum restraint, resolve disputes by peaceful means on the basis of international law, including the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS); welcomed efforts to maintain peace, security, stability and freedom and safety of navigation and aviation in the region.

The conference elected Ms. Michaëlle Jean as the new Secretary General of the Francophone to replace Mr. Adbou Diouf at the end of his term; admitted Mexico, Costa Rica and Kosovo as observers, bringing the total number of members of the International Organization of the Francophone to 80. The conference also decided to hold the 16th Francophone Summit in 2016 in Madagascar.

The Vietnamese delegation, led by Vice President Nguyen Thi Doan, attended the Conference. On this occasion, the Vice President had meetings with the President of Senegal, President of Cameroon, President of Mauritius, Prince of Monaco, Prime Minister of Egypt, Interim Prime Minister of Tunisia, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Haiti and Secretary General of La Francophonie to discuss measures to promote bilateral relations and discuss issues of mutual concern.

During the conference, the Vietnamese delegation visited the "French Village" and the Vietnamese exhibition booth prepared by the Vietnam Posts and Telecommunications Group (VNPT)./.

According to VNA