France will host the 19th Francophonie Summit in Villers-Cotterêts on October 4 and 5.
This event brings together the 88 member states and governments of the OIF to define the strategic directions of La Francophonie.
This is the first time in 33 years that it has been held in France.
The Villers-Cotterêts Summit will focus on the theme of "Creating, innovating, and entrepreneurship in French," and will aim to highlight the wide range of opportunities offered by the French-speaking world, particularly for young people.
The Francophonie Summit website details the main challenges for the coming years:
• Linguistic challenge: supporting the growth of the French-speaking population, which is set to increase from 321 million today to 715 million by 2050. This requires significant support for the teaching of and in French.
• Geopolitical challenge: in the face of global fragmentation, the Francophonie is a unique forum for dialogue, present on five continents and based on a shared language and values: it must be strengthened.
• Digital challenge: as artificial intelligence advances in our societies, we must ensure that the digital space reflects linguistic and cultural diversity, and that algorithms enable visibility and discoverability.
• Economic challenge: French-speaking countries trade more and offer better job prospects in countries that share a common language and even a common legal culture.
The Villers-Cotterêts Summit will be an opportunity to make strong commitments in these different areas and to demonstrate the strength and appeal of the French language and the Francophonie.
In addition, from October 2 to 6, the Festival de la Francophonie, which is free and open to all, opens its doors for five days of discovery, encounters, and celebration of Francophone diversity.
The Festival will take over the Gaîté Lyrique and the CENTQUATRE-PARIS to offer an exceptional multidisciplinary program. Concerts, exhibitions, literary events, live performances, film screenings, debates, and workshops…
For five days, Paris will become the stage for numerous encounters with French-speaking personalities, artists, and creators from five continents, centered around the theme "Remaking the World."
The Francophonie Festival is free and open to everyone, but some activities require reservations.
Book tickets for events, workshops, and shows on the official website.