Emmanuel Macron (L) and Edouard Fritch Photo: supplied
French Polynesia's president Edouard Fritch has endorsed France's strategy of building up its presence in the Indo-Pacific region.
He said however, diplomacy is not enough to extend influence and needs to be bolstered by cooperating with Pacific Island countries on joint projects.
His statement comes after meeting France's former ambassador to Vanuatu, Pierre Fournier, who is now the foreign ministry's special envoy for strengthening the French presence in the Pacific, based in Wellington.
His role is linked to the policy direction formulated by President Emmanuel Macron in 2018 aimed at building an axis from Paris to Papeete to counter China's influence.
The move to entrench France in the region comes despite both French Polynesia and New Caledonia being on the UN decolonisation list.
Fritch said an example of cooperation is the Manatua Cable project, involving French Polynesia, the Cook Islands, Niue and Samoa.
He said with the rise in power of the Pacific Islands Forum, it is opportune for France to work with French Polynesia as it is a Forum member familiar with the Pacific Way.
