The opening session was chaired by the Prime Minister of the Canada in the presence of the mayors of Quebec and Paris, as well as the Secretary General of la francophonie Mr. Abdou Diouf.

This forum is part of the dynamics on the place of the French language in the world where English is the most spoken language.
Several panels and workshops are planned for this diagnosis.

At the same time, the FTQ and the CSN two large trade unions of Quebec organized a Trade Union forum on the same theme: "use of the French to work." Several young unionists of Africa are invited as welle as the ITUC and ITUC-Africa.

On this occasion a communication, the General Secretary of ITUC-Africa, Mr. Adrien B. AKOUETE, presented on the Status of the French language in Africa.

Over 1500 delegates from all over the world participate in this forum