Cultural identity promotes common understanding in the region

(To Quoc) - Within the framework of the 11th ASEAN Ministers Responsible for Culture and Arts Meeting (AMCA-11) and related conferences, Malaysia, as the host, organized the ASEAN Arts Festival 2024 in Melaka - the event that concluded the series of rich activities during the Conference.

The event was attended by Deputy Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism of Vietnam Ta Quang Dong, Minister in charge of culture and arts of ASEAN countries and Timor-Leste, ASEAN Secretary General Kao Kim Hourn, Governor of Melaka province and about 150 artists from ASEAN countries, Japan, Korea and China. Vietnam was represented by dancers from the Vietnam Dance Academy.

The Vietnamese delegation brought to the Festival the performance "Vietnamese Girls", introducing to international audiences the image of graceful Vietnamese girls in traditional Vietnamese dresses and conical hats.

Speaking at the ASEAN Arts Festival 2024, the Governor of Melaka Province said that the Festival is not only an opportunity for ASEAN countries to introduce their unique cultural beauty but also a platform to promote common understanding and strengthen cooperative relationships among countries in the region.

The Melaka Governor emphasized that the elaborately staged performances tell the cultural and historical stories of ASEAN, combining the unique elements of each country, promising to create an engaging performance. This is also one of the key activities to promote tourism, in response to Malaysia's "Visit Melaka Year 2024", as well as the opening activity to register Melaka as an ASEAN Cultural City for the period 2024-2026.

The ASEAN Arts Festival is held periodically on the sidelines of the ASEAN Ministerial Meeting responsible for Culture and Arts, providing a platform for ASEAN countries to introduce and honor their unique cultural heritage.

The art festival was held at Dataran Pengkalan Rama Square next to the Melaka River, attracting a large number of locals and tourists. The story running through the festival was "The Adventure of Five Brothers" introducing the audience to a legend about Malay warriors who traveled to each country in the ASEAN region to complete a work of art.

Participating in the event, each ASEAN country skillfully used its own historical and cultural elements, introducing traditional dances and songs imbued with its own identity. By integrating the country's cultural story into each performance, the audience had a deep and comprehensive view of the cultural diversity but still united in the solidarity of ASEAN. In addition, the presence of art troupes from dialogue countries China, Japan and Korea, along with the special participation of singers from Timor-Leste, helped expand the cultural space of ASEAN, contributing to expressing a more diverse and rich identity for the event.

The Vietnamese delegation brought to the Festival the performance "Vietnamese Girls", introducing to the international audience the image of graceful Vietnamese women in the traditional four-panel dress and conical hat. The performance harmoniously combined folk music and graceful dance movements, creating a vivid picture of Vietnamese culture, while evoking closeness and affection in the hearts of international audiences. Not only an artistic performance, the performance also conveyed a message of solidarity and national pride, wishing to contribute to connecting traditional and modern values, together building a prosperous and sustainable ASEAN community.

The event not only stops at artistic performances but also opens up opportunities for cooperation, promoting tourism and international cultural exchange.

The ASEAN Arts Festival, held periodically on the sidelines of the ASEAN Ministerial Meeting on Culture and Arts, is a playground for ASEAN countries to introduce and honor their unique cultural heritage, from dance, musical instruments, traditional costumes, to folklore stories, while also emphasizing the important role of culture and arts in connecting countries. The ASEAN Arts Festival, along with parallel events such as the Melaka River Festival, the Malacca Straits Arts Festival and the International Folk Arts Festival (CIOFF), creates opportunities to promote tourism and contribute to preserving and promoting the cultural heritage values ​​of the region. The event does not stop at art performances but also opens up opportunities for cooperation, promoting tourism and international cultural exchange./.

Source: https://toquoc.vn/lien-hoan-nghe-thuat-asean-ban-sac-van-hoa-thuc-day-hieu-biet-chung-trong-khu-vuc-20241027194722991.htm