China News Service, Phnom Penh, November 14th. Title: Feel the charm of multiculturalism at the "Francophone Cultural Village" in Phnom Penh, Cambodia.
Author Zhang Anqi Zhang Yanlin Yang Qiang
On November 14, in front of a photo wall that read "A Smile for the French-speaking World", tourists took turns leaving smiles in front of the camera. The originally blank map of Cambodia on the wall was filled with smiling faces. Not far away, the traditional Rwandan drums were beating loud and powerful, the Turkish chef cut into the sizzling grilled meat, the Moroccan chef opened the pointed metal cover, and the stewed chicken was freshly cooked and fragrant.
The 20th Francophone Summit will be held in Cambodia from the 15th to 16th of this month. As a supporting activity of this summit, the "Francophone Cultural Village" will be open from the 13th to the 17th. With the theme of "Khmer Smile, Francophone Smile", music, food and multi-national cultures collide here, attracting many local people and international tourists.
Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manai said in his opening speech on the 13th that the "Francophone Cultural Village" is an important window for the Francophone Organization summit to the public, bringing together different countries, people and cultures, so that exchange activities are not limited to high-level political and diplomatic meetings.
"The 'French Culture Village' provides children learning French with the opportunity to get a closer look at the culture, food, and customs of different French-speaking countries." Marina, a teacher at an international school in Phnom Penh, told a China News Service reporter that the school specially organizes students to visit and experience the rich and colorful culture of French-speaking countries.
Entering the French exhibition area, a "tuk-tuk" equipped with an AI interactive device attracted many visitors. Visitors can sit in the car and talk to the AI digital avatar of Cambodian singer Sin Sissam. According to staff member Zhan Sawadei, the exhibition area focuses on the three major themes of cultural and artistic creation, French exchange, and science and sustainable development, presenting the exchanges and cooperation between France and Cambodia in multiple fields.
At the Romanian booth, several brightly colored masks were hung on the wall, with pointed crests and wide eyes. This fusion of traditional Cambodian drama elements and Romanian folk mask art has a strong visual impact. The Rwandan artist’s penetrating singing and rhythmic drumming ignited the atmosphere, making the audience clap their hands and immerse themselves in the art world from central and eastern Africa.
The “Francophone Cultural Village” also provides a showcase for Cambodian culture. The bamboo handicrafts are painted with Moni Mekara, the goddess of rain and harvest in Khmer mythology. The copper brooches and earrings incorporate elements such as the statues of Angkor Wat and the Cambodian national flower "Langdu flower". The hand-painted works depict Angkor Wat monks, elephants and floating wooden houses on the Tonle Sap Lake. The work condenses Cambodia’s natural features and cultural memories into souvenirs that can be taken away.
"We are proud of these works. They are inspired by Khmer traditional culture and are all handmade. We hope that more people can understand our culture." Handmade souvenir shop owner Akhlisa said that the event organizer provides free booths for exhibitors and craftsmen, providing a display platform for local specialty products and handicrafts.
At the booth of Sihanoukville Province, coconut, palm oil, fried quail and other local specialty products were neatly displayed, and the rich flavor of local life was felt. Monsina, Governor of Sihanoukville Province, introduced local special products to visitors and displayed the products and features of Cambodia's coastal provinces.
"Hosting the Francophone Summit and related activities is of great significance to Cambodia. We hope to show the world that Cambodia is a peaceful and peaceful land, a country capable of hosting large-scale international events, and can provide a safe environment for investment and tourism development," Monsina said.
