France, Dec. 17 -- French President Emmanuel Macron has announced he will meet New Caledonian elected officials on 16 January in a bid to "continue the dialogue" on the Pacific archipelago's institutional future and to "provide clarification on the Bougival agreement" signed last July.

In a letter to local elected representatives, President Macron said the meeting would build on talks held earlier this year and aim to reopen political discussion at a time when the agreement's future looks increasingly uncertain.

"Following the discussions initiated at the Summit for the Future of New Caledonia held on 2 July at the Elysee Palace, in order to clarify the 12 July agreement, I have decided to organize a new forum for exchange to continue t...