TUNIS, April 15 (Xinhua) -- Tunisian Minister of Foreign Affairs Khemaies Jhinaoui and the Secretary-General of the International Organization of the Francophonie (OIF) Louise Mushikiwabo signed on Monday a convention on the establishment of the OIF office for North Africa in Tunis.

"The OIF office has a strategic importance and will contribute to Tunisia's shining at the regional and international level," said Jhinaoui during a press briefing in Tunis.

"This office will help strengthen cooperation between the countries of the region," he added.

Mushikiwabo, who arrived in Tunisia on April 14 for a three-day visit, said her visit gives the signal for the start of the preparation of the 18th Francophonie Summit scheduled for November 2020.

Created in 1970, the OIF is an international organization representing countries and regions where French is a customary language, where a significant proportion of the population are French speakers, or where there is a notable affiliation with French culture.