2024 is a 'bumper year' for Vietnam's cultural diplomacy

Speaking to a VNA reporter in Beijing, Ling Dequan, a Chinese researcher on Vietnamese issues, affirmed that 2024 will be "a bumper year" for Vietnam's cultural diplomacy. According to him, cultural diplomacy is a regular, continuous, comprehensive work that will bring many results over time.

Mr. Lang Duc Quyen, a Chinese researcher on Vietnamese issues, gives an interview to a VNA reporter in China. Photo: Quang Hung/VNA reporter in China

According to Mr. Lang Duc Quyen, culture is the "flesh and soul" of a nation, culture is the "nutrient" that nourishes a nation and permeates the blood of the people, culture is closely related to human behavior and the behavior of a nation, because culture determines concepts, concepts determine behavior and thinking consciousness of a nation. The world has now entered the era of "cultural diplomacy", referring to the exchange and communication of views, information as well as art forms and different cultural fields between nations and ethnic groups. In Vietnam, the Party and State are increasingly interested in building a culture imbued with national identity and cultural diplomacy. Vietnam's overall diplomacy includes four components: political diplomacy, economic diplomacy, cultural diplomacy and public diplomacy. Of which, political diplomacy is the driving force, economic diplomacy is the breakthrough, cultural diplomacy is the spiritual foundation. Literary and artistic exchanges, cultural and tourism exchanges, sports exchanges, academic exchanges, exhibition exchanges and other cultural activities are the main manifestations of cultural diplomacy. Vietnam's cultural diplomacy develops along with the development of political diplomacy, economic diplomacy, people's diplomacy and is elevated along with the development of Vietnam's comprehensive national strength as well as soft power. Mr. Lang Duc Quyen believes that by 2025, Vietnam's cultural diplomacy as well as other fields will achieve greater achievements.

Assessing the results achieved in promoting Vietnamese culture in China as well as the role of culture in diplomatic relations between the two countries, researcher Lang Duc Quyen said that the promotion of Vietnamese culture in China has achieved remarkable results, and the cultural factor is increasingly playing an important role in diplomatic relations between the two countries. In addition, cultural diplomacy between Vietnam and China also has great room for development. These things apply not only to Vietnam but also to China. According to Mr. Lang Duc Quyen, the cultures of China and Vietnam are very similar but also have their own characteristics, there is exchange, interaction and a long history. He said that President Ho Chi Minh once summarized the China-Vietnam relationship very well in 6 words: "Same culture, same race, comrade". The cultures of the two countries belong to the East Asian cultural region, there are no conflicting elements but only complement and learn from each other. Mr. Lang Duc Quyen added that Chinese people understand Vietnamese culture mainly through 3 channels: tourism, goods and the Internet. The role of diplomacy is mainly to pave the way, act as a bridge and better serve the exchange of cultural characteristics between ministries, localities, fields and channels of the two countries. Therefore, it can be seen that cultural diplomacy has a very wide scope, great potential and great significance.

Cong Tuyen - Quang Hung (Vietnam News Agency)

Source: https://baotintuc.vn/thoi-su/2024-la-nam-boi-thu-cua-ngoai-giao-van-hoa-viet-nam-20241220142304931.htm