Vietnamese Party General Secretary and State President To Lam suggested reforming multilateral institutions, including the International Organization of La Francophonie (OIF), to enhance their efficiency in addressing global issues at the 19th Francophonie Summit in France this weekend.

The Vietnamese leader made his suggestion while addressing a session on reformed multilateralism in Paris on Saturday, as part of the two-day summit whose inaugural session took place a day earlier in Villers-Cotterêts, 80km from the French capital, according to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

In his speech, Lam affirmed the irreplaceable role of multilateral mechanisms in international relations and highlighted the OIF’s contributions to dealing with the issues facing international community, as well as to building frameworks and principles on emerging issues.

To enhance the role of multilateralism in coping with global challenges, Lam underlined the need to connect it with ongoing transition processes in the world, especially digital transformation and green transition.

The francophone community should adapt to this trend and assist members in improving their technological capacity, developing clean energy, and successfully realizing the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), the Vietnamese leader suggested.

He believed science and technology to be the key for the community to make breakthroughs for its development in the future.

Lam emphasized the need for reforms to improve the efficiency of multilateral institutions, including the OIF, to better respond to the rapidly changing global situation and the francophone space.

He advised that the francophone community should prioritize its members’ needs, particularly in economic cooperation, and coordinate the implementation of the documents passed at the UN Summit of the Future last month.

The head of the Party and state of Vietnam asserted that multilateralism can only succeed if it ensures inclusiveness, comprehensiveness, and a people-centered approach, particularly for young people.

In this spirit, Lam suggested that the OIF continue to promote people-to-people exchanges and cultural and educational cooperation using French, to maintain this beautiful language, connect its members, and spread the organization's achievements widely.

Like Lam, many other delegates lauded the francophone community’s contributions to promoting dialogue and peacebuilding, enhancing cultural and linguistic diversity, boosting the implementation of the SDGs, and responding to global challenges.

Participants expressed concerns about the complex global developments, particularly in the Middle East.

They underscored the need to reform multilateral institutions, including the francophone community, to keep up with modern trends and improve their effectiveness in addressing international issues.

The 19th Francophonie Summit wrapped up on Saturday with the adoption of several important documents, including the Villers-Cotterêts Declaration, a resolution on the political situation and peace consolidation within the francophone space, and a statement of solidarity with Lebanon.

The document calls on IOF member states to further support cooperation in science, technology, innovation, creativity, digital economy, startups, and public-private partnership.

Besides promoting the French language and spotlighting its role in education, teaching, creativity, and cultural diversity, the declaration underscores the determination of the francophone community to achieve sustainable development and ensure harmony between growth, poverty eradication, and environmental protection.

The declaration reaffirms the IOF’s commitment to its shared values, namely peace, cooperation, and sustainable development, while upholding respect for international law and the UN Charter, according to the Vietnam News Agency.   

It also emphasizes the organization's efforts to address common challenges, particularly climate change, employment, and gender equality.

The summit decided to hold the 46th Ministerial Conference of the OIF in Côte d'Ivoire, West Africa, next year and the 20th Francophonie Summit in Cambodia in 2026.

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