French Ambassador to New Zealand, Laurence Beau, presents Credentials to Samoa Council of Deputies

The Ambassador of France to New Zealand, Laurence Beau, presented her credentials to the Member of the Council of Deputies, Afioga Le Mamea Tuiletufuga Ropati Mualia, in Apia, Samoa, Yesterday (Wednesday), September 27, 2023. 

As per the Update, Samoa and France have enjoyed cordial relations since establishing diplomatic ties on March 1 1974.

The French Ambassador to New Zealand, Laurence Beau, expressed France’s strong commitment to strengthening its diplomatic presence in the Pacific region as demonstrated in the announcement in July by President Emmanuel Macron of France’s decision to open an Embassy in Apia.

France and Samoa are guided by a shared willingness to further develop and strengthen the ties of existing friendship and cooperation, particularly in favour of:

1. Climate Action
2. Biodiversity Preservation
3. Sustainable Development
4. Peace
5. Security

Reportedly, Laurence Beau presented her Letter of Credence to the Member of the Council of Deputies, Afioga Le Mamea Tuiletufuga Ropati Mualia, at a presentation of the credential ceremony held this morning at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade accrediting Her Excellency as the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of France to Samoa with residence in Wellington, New Zealand.

Samoa and France have enjoyed cordial relations since establishing diplomatic ties on March 1 1974. 

The Ambassador expressed France’s strong commitment to strengthening its diplomatic presence in the Pacific region, as demonstrated in the announcement in July by President Emmanuel Macron of France’s decision to open an Embassy in Apia.

 Afioga Le Mamea informed the Ambassador that the Government of Samoa looks forward to hosting the French Embassy in Samoa as this would further strengthen our bilateral relations and the engagement of France in the Pacific. 

Samoa and France have worked collaboratively in the United Nations and at the ACP-EU setting to advance and address issues of common interests, including the promotion of human rights, sovereignty, the rule of law, combating climate change, conservation of our oceans and their resources, building resilience and the attainment of sustainable development to mention a few.

Afioga Le Mamea expressed his confidence that Laurence Beau’s appointment as Ambassador of France to Samoa will no doubt provide more opportunities for collaboration on matters of mutual interest to strengthen Samoa and France’s bilateral ties further.

Ambassador Laurence Beau holds a Master’s in English language, Culture and Economics from Sorbonne University. Mrs Beau worked as a career diplomat for 30 years in various senior postings. 

She was assigned to the Directorate of Strategic Affairs, Security and Disarmament at France’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs from 1992 to 1995. Ambassador Beau was posted as Deputy Head of Mission in Panama, Seychelles and Singapore.

Ambassador Beau was posted as Ambassador of France to Botswana and Special Representative to the Southern African Development Community, followed by her second Ambassadorial posting as Ambassador of France to New Zealand in September 2022.

Ambassador Beau was honoured with the appointment as Knight of the Ordre national du Mérite in 2016 and elevated to Knight of the Légion d’honneur in 2021.