On the occasion of International Francophonie Day (March 20th), Ambassador Dương Văn Quảng, Representative of the President of Vietnam to the Francophonie Organization, gave an interview about Vietnam's role and contributions to the development of the Francophonie community, especially in teaching French in Vietnam. He also discussed France's policies regarding the development of the Francophone community. Below is the content of the interview.
Interviewee: Ambassador Dương Văn Quảng, Representative of the President of Vietnam to the Francophonie Organization.
PV: Ambassador, in the process of globalization, English has become the main language of communication, affecting the development of the Francophone community in general and Vietnam in particular. So, how do you assess the current development trend of the Francophone community?
Ambassador Dương Văn Quảng:
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Previously, there was a narrow perception that Francophonie only meant relations with France and the French language.
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The origin of Francophonie is that many countries share the French language. Vietnam joined based on historical and cultural reasons.
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The Francophonie Organization (OIF) has 77 member states, so viewing it only as a relationship with France is incorrect.
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Due to globalization, the organization has changed significantly since its founding. It is now a real international organization.
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Its initial goal was culture and language (French and French culture). After over 40 years, it encompasses other goals and principles.
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At the 7th Summit in Hanoi (1997), the OIF decided to open up the field of economic cooperation, including trilateral cooperation. Vietnam has participated in many trilateral economic cooperation projects, especially in agriculture, education, and health in African countries, yielding good results.
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Economic cooperation was promoted after the Hanoi Summit but later declined. However, most recently at the 14th Summit in Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo (October 2012), Francophone countries decided to adopt a strategy on economic cooperation at the next summit. Economic cooperation will therefore be prioritized.
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Since the end of the Cold War, the OIF has also pushed for the building of a political Francophonie, emphasizing the rule of law, democratization, and human rights. Declarations like Bamako (2000) and Saint-Boniface (2006) provide a framework for this political action.
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In summary, Francophonie has become a full-fledged international organization, evolving from focusing on maintaining French language and shared cultural values to becoming an economic cooperation organization and now one with a quite pronounced political character.
PV: How do you assess Vietnam's role, especially in teaching French?
Ambassador Dương Văn Quảng:
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Member countries pay attention to French language teaching. Vietnam emphasized French teaching in the 70s and 80s.
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Before the 7th Summit, Vietnam agreed with the OIF to establish bilingual classes to create a pool of French users in Vietnam. This plan developed for about 10 years but later slowed down for various reasons.
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For Vietnam, French is a foreign language, but a special one because it is the second working language of international organizations after English.
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French conveys a culture (broadly defined) and universal values, not just used in French-speaking countries like France, Canada, but globally. Knowing French provides access to the cultural wealth of the entire Francophone bloc.
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Another reason to maintain French in Vietnam is the special historical relationship between Vietnam and France.
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In the context of globalization, cultural and linguistic diversity is much discussed. We cannot limit ourselves to one language. Knowing only English is not enough now.
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Therefore, maintaining French teaching and use in Vietnam is justified and beneficial.
PV: With the decreasing trend of French learning, what measures do you think are needed to overcome this?
Ambassador Dương Văn Quảng:
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Foreign language teaching depends on recognizing its importance and the policy of each country.
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Vietnam needs to understand that teaching French or other foreign languages must stem from our own interests.
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Vietnam needs innovation and reform in its foreign language teaching programs and policies in general, and for French in particular.
PV: Since French President F. Hollande took power, have France's policies regarding Francophonie development changed?
Ambassador Dương Văn Quảng:
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Previously, France was perhaps mechanically concerned with teaching and using French. This also led to the narrow understanding that Francophonie was just about the French language.
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Currently, the OIF is a full international organization, including its political meaning, but retaining the specific characteristic of using French.
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France's policy towards Francophonie is different now. They do not support French development in the same way as before but view it from a strategic and international relations perspective.
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The French government determines that the future of French is in Africa. Surveys predict that by 2050, 85% of French speakers will be African.
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France sees French not only as a means to convey a culture but also other values like democracy, human rights, and sustainable development.
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In the past 10 years, Francophonie overly emphasized human rights and democracy. Now, they believe that focusing only on democracy and human rights is not enough and that attention must also be paid to cooperation and development.
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This shift led to the consensus at the 14th Kinshasa Summit to include the economic cooperation strategy within the joint declaration, to be adopted at the next summit.
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France believes the Francophonie organization must develop in three areas: Culture/Language, Economy, and Politics. They consider the relationship with Africa special in this regard.
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After taking office, President Hollande stated the need to build a new policy towards Africa, based on mutual benefit.
PV: According to you, what should Vietnam do to deepen its relationship with the Francophone community?
Ambassador Dương Văn Quảng:
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I believe Vietnam needs a general and comprehensive policy on Francophonie.
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This policy must include a special chapter on relations with Africa.
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Vietnam joined Francophonie in the 1970s and contributed significantly to its formation and development. Now is the ripe time to formulate a comprehensive, overarching policy on Francophonie with a new perspective, moving beyond the narrow view that Francophonie is just the French language.
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Vietnam is an active and important member of the OIF.
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Vietnam needs international support, and Francophone countries are reliable partners to mobilize and persuade, but this must be done in French.
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This policy must encompass politics, diplomacy, economy, culture, language, and propaganda/communication.
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Why does our communication rarely reach Africa? To reach Africa, communication must primarily be conducted in French, not just English, because English is spoken by less than half of Africa.
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Therefore, Vietnam needs more people using French, teaching and learning French. If we don't change, French in Vietnam will gradually fade and disappear in about 10 to 15 years.
Reported by Lê Hà and Trung Dũng (TTXVN correspondents in France)