The Village de la Francophonie, a major side event of the 20th Francophonie Summit, was officially inaugurated this morning under the presidency of Prime Minister Samdech Moha Borvor Thipadei Hun Manet and his spouse, alongside H.E. Ms. Louise Mushikiwabo, Secretary-General of the International Organisation of La Francophonie (OIF).
The event represents one of the cultural highlights of the 20th Francophonie Summit, providing a platform for people across the Francophone community to celebrate cultural diversity, strengthen friendship and explore opportunities for cooperation.
In his opening remarks, Samdech Thipadei Hun Manet described the occasion as a moment of pride, unity and celebration for Cambodia as it hosts the Francophonie Summit for the first time.
He underlined that the Village de la Francophonie serves as the public gateway to the Summit, bringing together people, cultures and nations beyond the high-level political and diplomatic meetings.
Located in the heart of Phnom Penh, near the confluence of the four rivers, the village reflects the capital’s longstanding role as a meeting point of rivers, peoples and cultures.
Samdech Thipadei recalled Cambodia’s longstanding engagement with the Francophone community, noting that the Kingdom joined the organisation as an observer in 1991 before becoming a full member in 1993.
He emphasised that the French language represents not only an important part of Cambodia’s historical memory but also a language of education, knowledge and friendship.
Referring to the Summit’s theme, “Reinvesting in Peace for Shared Prosperity and Sustainable Stability,” the Prime Minister stressed that peace holds particular significance for Cambodia, which understands that it must be built and maintained every day through patience and collective efforts.
He further explained that the Francophonie extends beyond a shared language, encompassing living cultures, economic opportunities, trade, innovation and common values, including peace, human dignity and solidarity.
The village features national pavilions of participating countries, offering visitors opportunities to experience diverse cuisines, music, artistic performances and cultural products, while discovering the work of artisans, producers and young entrepreneurs, he said.
H.E. Dr. Ing Kantha Phavi, Minister of Women’s Affairs and Chairwoman of the Fifth Sub-Commission in charge of side events, said the village had been conceived as a space where the cultural richness of the Francophone world could be shared with the Cambodian public.
Under the theme “The Khmer Smile, the Smile of Francophonie,” the village aims to showcase cultural diversity, strengthen solidarity among French-speaking nations and foster closer connections among people, while promoting tourism, economic cooperation and cultural understanding.
Spanning approximately 10,000 square metres, the Village de la Francophonie comprises five main components: national pavilions representing OIF member states; daily cultural and artistic performances; conferences and seminars; a general exhibition area; and a Francophone Gastronomy Village.
Admission is free, allowing Cambodian residents and international visitors to join the celebrations and experience the diversity of Francophone cultures from Nov. 13 to 17, 2026.
