Hanoi (VNA) – The International Francophone Day (March 20) offers an opportunity for the Francophonecommunity to honour its common values and the desire shared by French-speakingpeople to live and cooperate in cultural diversity.

Over the pastyears, Vietnam has made continuous efforts to contribute to promoting the imageand presence of the French-speaking community in the Asia-Pacific and the worldat large.

The Southeast Asiannation official joined the International Organisation of La Francophone (OIF) in1970, and was elected to important positions of the organisation, such as Chairof the Permanent Council of the Francophone (CPF) in 1996, Chair of the Francophone Ministerial Conference(CMF) in the 1996-1997 tenure, Chair of the Francophone Summit for 1997-1998, Vice President of theCPF’s financial and administrative committee for 2009-2011 and 2011-2013,Chair of CPF’s cooperation and programme committee for 2013-2015, member of theexecutive council of the Association of Francophone Universities for 2013-2017and 2017-2021, and Chair of the Network of Structures and Institutions incharge of Francophone in Asia-Pacific (RESIFAP) for 2013-2016. 

VietnameseAmbassador Tran Thi Hoang Mai was appointed by the OIF General Secretary ashead of the Francophone representative office in West Africa in September 2020.She is the first Asian to head a regional OIF office overseas.

At the OIF, Vietnamhas raised many initiatives to promote cooperation and enhance dialogues among its member countries in the community. The participation of high-rankingVietnamese leaders in Francophone summits demonstrates the importance thecountry attaches to the Francophone community.

The most obvious imprint of Vietnam liedwith the seventh Francophone Summit in Hanoi in November 1997, through which Vietnammade remarkable contributions to the institutionalisation of politicalactivities, and promoting cooperation in economy, apart from politics, culture-languageand education-training.

In March 2019, Vietnamfor the first time held the celebration of International Francophone Day withthe theme of “Couleurs Francophones” (FrancophoneColours) to promote and introduce the community aswell as its goals and values, and Vietnam’s role and contributions.

As Chair of theOIF’s economic committee, Vietnam successfully coordinated the drafting ofthe Francophone Economic Development Strategy for 2020-2025. The country was also thefirst stop of a Francophone business delegation in a series of activities toimplement this strategy.

Various activitiesmarking 2024 International Francophone Day

2024 is animportant year for the Francophone Community, marked by the organisation of the Paris Olympic and Paralympic Games and the Francophone Summit in Villers-Cotterêts (France). The year also marksthe 30th founding anniversary the OIF’s Asia-Pacific Office.

The OIF, the Group of FrancophoneEmbassies, Delegations and Institutions in Vietnam (GADIF), Vietnamese agencies and French-speaking partnersacross the country have prepared a cultural programme focusing on the theme of “Create,innovate and do business in French” selected for the Francophone Summit.

In Vietnam, aceremony was held on March 20 by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs at the Vietnam Museumof Ethnology to observe the International Francophone Day, with theparticipation of representatives from the Government, agencies, GADIFmembers, universities and partners.

The embassies ofCanada, France and Switzerland and the Wallonia-BrusselsGeneral Delegation will organise a free movie screeningwithin the framework of the 14th Francophone Film Festival from March 22-27 at the Hanoi-based Vietnam NationalDocumentary and Scientific Film Studio and at DCINE BenThanh in Ho Chi Minh City.

The French Embassyin Vietnam organised a “Relay around the world” on March 14 to honour sports and the French-speaking community in daily life inVietnam./.