French Embassy

The French President Emmanuel Macron announced plans for the first French embassy in Polynesia during his trip to the Pacific last week.

"France and Samoa share the same values of democracy, the rules-based order and the protection of global commons," the French government said in a statement.

"More than fifty years after the establishment of their diplomatic relations, that France and Samoa have decided to open a new page of their common history with the establishment of a French Embassy in Apia."

In a joint communique, the two countries say this first French embassy in Polynesia will, in particular, contribute to strengthening the ties between Samoa and the French territories of French Polynesia, New Caledonia, and Wallis and Futuna.

They said the embassy will also facilitate the engagement of France within the Pacific Regional Environment Programme based in Apia.

French president Emmanuel Macron was in the Pacific last week but did not visit Samoa.