This is still the first time a Francophone Summit was held in the Asia- Pacific region, highlighting Vietnam's position in the organisation.
The 7th Francophone Conference in Hanoi was a landmark event for the French-speaking international community. The conference approved the charter and elected the first secretary-general.
The conference also marked a radical shift from the framework of cultural co-operation through the common language of French to full-fledged political and economic co-operation.
With 84 member governments, accounting for 20% of trade and 13% of global GDP, the Francophone International is only behind the UN in terms of size and influence.
