The 12th Francophone summit opened Friday in Canada's French-speaking Quebec City with Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper calling for efforts to help resolve the current global financial crisis. Canada's Prime Minister Stephen Harper speaks at the opening session of the Francophonie Summit in Quebec City on October 17, 2008. The biennial summit of the 55-member countries with large French-speaking populations runs from October 17-19.

French President Nicolas Sarkozy speaks at the opening session of the Francophonie Summit in Quebec City on October 17, 2008.

(Xinhua News Agency October 18, 2008)