# Macron heads to Cambodia for Francophonie summit

> French president visits Cambodia for first time since de Gaulle in 1966, attending summit where OIF leader will be elected by vote for the first time.
- Title: Macron heads to Cambodia for Francophonie summit · RFI
- Summary: French president visits Cambodia for first time since de Gaulle in 1966, attending summit where OIF leader will be elected by vote for the first time.
- Keywords: emmanuel macron, cambodia, francophonie summit, france, phnom penh, king norodom sihamoni, state visit, organisation internationale de la franco, RFI
- Source: RFI — https://rfi.fr/en/international/20261112-france-s-macron-to-pay-state-visit-to-cambodia-during-francophonie-summit
- Read time: 2 min
- Topics: emmanuel macron, cambodia, francophonie summit, france, phnom penh, king norodom sihamoni, state visit, organisation internationale de la franco, news, world
## Macron arrives in Cambodia
French President Emmanuel Macron and his wife Brigitte will make a state visit to Cambodia from fourteen to sixteen November at the invitation of King Norodom Sihamoni.
## First French presidential visit since 1966
It will be the first visit by a French president to Cambodia since Charles de Gaulle's in nineteen sixty-six. Macron's visit is also the first state visit since François Mitterrand's in nineteen ninety-three.
## Strengthening ties with Cambodia
The visit aims to strengthen economic and cultural ties between France and Cambodia. Agreements and cooperation documents covering the economy, investment, culture and defence will be signed during the trip.
## Attending the Francophonie Summit
While in Phnom Penh, Macron will attend the twentieth Francophonie Summit on fifteen and sixteen November, where the next head of the Organisation internationale de la Francophonie will be elected.
## First election by vote for OIF leader
For the first time, heads of state and government will choose the OIF leader by vote. Until now, the choice was made by consensus. The term lasts four years.
## Four candidates competing
Four candidates are competing for the post: Louise Mushikiwabo of Rwanda seeking a third term, Juliana Amato Lumumba of the Democratic Republic of Congo, Coumba Bâ of Mauritania, and Dacian Cioloș, a former prime minister…
## Cambodia's Francophonie roots
King Norodom Sihanouk, the current monarch's father, was one of the OIF's founding fathers. The organisation was created in nineteen seventy and now has fifty-three full member states and governments.
## Temple restoration and tech exhibition
Macron will join King Sihamoni in Siem Reap province for the closing ceremony of the restoration of the West Mebon temple, almost one thousand years old and part of the Unesco World Heritage site at…
## FrancoTech exhibition opens
Macron will officially open the FrancoTech exhibition, where institutions, businesses and start-ups from both countries will discuss key technology issues.
## Malaysia visit follows
The Macrons leave Cambodia on sixteen November for a two-day visit to Malaysia.
## Key takeaway

Emmanuel Macron visits Cambodia from November fourteen to sixteen to attend the twentieth Francophonie Summit, the first French presidential visit since Charles de Gaulle in nineteen sixty-six.