At its latest summit, the Pacific Islands Forum has added two members - French Polynesia and New Caledonia.
This marks the first time that territories on the UN decolonisation list are part of the organisation founded for the region's independent countries.
It marks a great success for French diplomacy.
Don Wiseman asked Walter Zweifel why this is significant for France.
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The president of New Caledonia, Philippe Germain, and the president of French Polynesia, Edouard Fritch, after their territories were admitted as full members of the Pacific Islands Forum. Photo: Office of the President of French Polynesia