Diplomats from countries including France, Canada, Switzerland and Tunisia pose for a group picture at the inauguration ceremony of the 30th Mois de la francophonie at the Institut Français in China on March 4, 2026. Photo: Courtesy of the Embassy of the French Republic in China

March has witnessed a slew of events, sharing sessions and movie screenings, competitions, and workshops, marking the 30th Mois de la francophonie. Coordinated by the Institut Français (French Institute) in China, in partnership with several embassies and cultural institutions, the 2026 Month of Francophonie has presented a rich and inclusive program to celebrate a language resolutely focused on the future: conferences and roundtables exploring the unique characteristics of innovation in French, according to the Swiss Embassy in China.

The theme for the year 2026's Francophonie Month is "Create, Invent, Innovate."

At the inauguration ceremony of the 30th Mois de la francophonie in Beijing, on March 4, Felix Schwendimann, counsellor, head of Culture and Media with the Swiss Embassy in China, told the Global Times that from his view, French, as a language, is celebrated to value the cultural diversity in Switzerland. 

Director Andrei Dascalescu (center) and delegates from the Romanian Cultural Institute (ICR) in Beijing at a movie screening session at the Institut Français in China on March 21, 2026. Photo: Dong Feng/GT

On March 21, the Romanian Cultural Institute (ICR) in Beijing and the French Institute in China jointly screened a Romanian movie - Planeta Petrila - directed by Andrei Dascalescu. 

After the movie, Director Dascalescu shared his stories of creating the movie, including shooting the scenes twice in the mining settings. 

On March 14, the French Institute in China, the Embassy of Switzerland in China and the Embassy of the French Republic in China jointly hosted a movie screening for L'Amour du Monde (Longing for the World).

Stéphane Le Fur (left), Educational Cooperation Attaché of the Embassy of the French Republic in China, chairs a discussion session in Beijing on March 14, 2026. Photo: Dong Feng/GT

Stéphane Le Fur, Educational Cooperation Attaché of the Embassy of the French Republic in China, chaired a discussion with the movie director Jenna Hasse. 

Director Hasse shared how she navigates the interplay between film and theater, balancing both acting and directing, following the release of her debut feature film Longing for the World.

Born in Portugal and raised in Switzerland, Hasse said that she valued diversity and family legacy. 

"Deep in our heart, each one is living in solitude. That's why we are reaching out for connection, which is the shared situation across the world," she said. 

As a language that remains perpetually vibrant, French is attracting an ever-growing number of learners and enthusiasts from a wide array of disciplines. 

Held under the theme "Create, Invent, Innovate," this edition highlights the global reach of the French language across the artistic, scientific, technological, mathematical, culinary, and musical spheres. 

A language constantly in motion, French today attracts an ever-broader and more diverse audience. 

In China, many people - captivated by French-language musicals - are studying French. 

This year's Francophonie Month features renowned stage actor and singer Zheng Yunlong as its ambassador. 

Zheng has a deep passion for French musicals and appreciates the rhythm and aesthetic beauty of the French language. 

At the inauguration ceremony, in a video clip, he remarked that "what French culture has given me is not merely roles and songs, but - more importantly - it has instilled in me an open, pluralistic, and bold spirit that encourages self-expression."

This year's Francophonie Month also benefits from the support of Chinese mathematician Wang Hong. 

Wang studied at the École Polytechnique, where she experienced French as a language of thought and scientific rigor.

Additionally, the Embassy of Canada in China launched an exhibition Jusqu'où peut-on se voir vers l'intérieur? (How far inward can one see?) at the Beijing Language and Culture University, as part of the 30th Mois de la francophonie on March 11. 

The exhibition brings together the works of three Chinese-Canadian artists who, through their artistic practices, explore the notion of culture. The exhibition remains open to the public until April 12.

Approximately 300 million people worldwide speak French. 

It ranks as the fifth-largest language globally, the second-largest business language in Europe, the third-largest business language worldwide, and the fourth-largest language on the internet; globally, there are 51 million French learners. 

Since 2014, the number of French speakers has increased by 10 percent.

Switzerland has four national languages: German, French, Italian, and Romansh. 

In Switzerland - particularly in the western part of the country - approximately 23 percent of the population (2 million people) speaks French as their native language, while in other regions of Switzerland, French is used as a second or third language.

This year, the Embassy of Switzerland in China - together with the Swiss Consulates General in Shanghai and Guangzhou - hosted a series of events themed "Creation, Creativity, and Innovation" for enthusiasts of the French language. 

These activities not only showcase the rich heritage of Switzerland's French-speaking regions but also demonstrate how contemporary creators use the French language to express their reflections on and visions of the world.

In Switzerland, French is not merely a language; it is a way of life and a vehicle for cultural expression. From the literary salons on the shores of Lake Geneva to the folk ballads of the Jura Valley, and from the contemporary art of Lausanne to the bilingual theater of Fribourg, the creativity of the French-speaking region permeates every facet of daily Swiss life.

Switzerland's ties to the French-speaking world extend far beyond this. This year marks the 30th anniversary of Switzerland's accession to the International Organization of La Francophonie (OIF). 

As an active member, Switzerland not only fosters multilingual coexistence and cultural exchange domestically but also advocates globally for French to serve as a bridge for knowledge sharing, artistic innovation, and intercultural dialogue.