Vietnam's soft power 'tree' is growing wider and wider

TPO - The fact that high-ranking Vietnamese leaders invite other countries to tea, take a walk around Hoan Kiem Lake, give books, give calligraphy... shows their interest and respect for other cultures, as well as their pride and confidence in Vietnam's cultural identity. Cultural diplomacy helps Vietnam's soft power "tree" grow stronger and spread wider...

General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong and General Secretary and President of China Xi Jinping listen to an introduction to Vietnamese tea ceremony during the Chinese leader's visit to Hanoi in December 2023. (Photo: VNA)

Vietnam's diplomatic achievements in 2023 have become a bright spot in the country's overall achievements. Cultural diplomacy is considered a sharp psychological weapon, becoming one of the three main pillars of Vietnam's foreign policy, along with political diplomacy and economic diplomacy. On the occasion of the New Year, Deputy Foreign Minister Ha Kim Ngoc talked with Tien Phong reporter about the most prominent points of cultural diplomacy over the past year. In 2023, Vietnam cleverly promoted the country's culture through activities welcoming foreign leaders. Could you tell us where those ideas came from and what their meaning is? Deputy Minister Ha Kim Ngoc: Culture is the shortest path from heart to heart, an effective bridge connecting with other nations, through sharing the beauty, values ​​and traditions of the Vietnamese people with international friends. Every idea and every cultural diplomacy event organized comes from the love for the homeland and country and pride in Vietnamese culture, with the desire to show an image of Vietnam as friendly, peaceful, and cooperative with countries around the world, as well as the desire to share its cultural values, and learn and respect the cultural values ​​of other countries.

President Vo Van Thuong and South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol strolled around Hoan Kiem Lake on June 24. (Photo: Tien Dat)

The foreign affairs activities of high-ranking Vietnamese leaders are not only political and economic meetings, but also an opportunity to demonstrate the hospitality and friendliness of the Vietnamese people. Images of General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong enjoying tea and talking with General Secretary and President Xi Jinping; President Vo Van Thuong and President of the Republic of Korea Yoon Suk-yeol walking around Hoan Kiem Lake; Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh presenting the calligraphy "Sincerity - Affection - Trust" to Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida; National Assembly Chairman Vuong Dinh Hue presenting books to Cuban National Assembly Chairman Esteban Lazo Hernandez... have left a deep impression on the Vietnamese people and other friendly countries. Organizing cultural diplomacy events and experiences close to local culture demonstrate the connection and understanding between Vietnam and other countries in many aspects. First of all, it is Vietnam's interest and respect for other cultures, as well as pride and confidence in Vietnam's cultural identity. The discovery and exploitation of similarities and cultural diversity among nations contributes to strengthening and tightening friendship among peoples.

Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Ha Kim Ngoc

Cultural diplomacy is truly a sharp psychological weapon, contributing to the accomplishment of foreign policy goals, while making partners admire the spirit and character of our nation. From there, partners respect, share and support the foreign policy of independence, self-reliance, multilateralization and diversification of our Party and State.

That also sends a message about Vietnam's development and integration, along with the desire to cooperate with other countries in building a world of peace, stability, cooperation and sustainable development. Specific benefits Cultural diplomacy is considered an effective tool of the country's "soft power". What specific benefits have the vibrant cultural diplomacy activities in recent times, especially in 2023, helped Vietnam achieve for the country and its people? If "soft power" is a tree, then cultural diplomacy is the root because it transforms the strength of our nation's more than 4,000-year-old civilization into the soft power of the country today. At the same time, cultural diplomacy is also the flowers that crystallize and spread fragrance, bringing Vietnamese cultural values ​​to the international community. In 2023, cultural diplomacy contributed to increasing the country's soft power, enhancing the image and brand of Vietnam in the international arena, when UNESCO recognized Cat Ba as a World Heritage Site, put Hoi An and Da Lat into the system of creative cities and honored the famous physician Hai Thuong Lan Ong. Vietnam's position and influence were enhanced when Vietnam assumed the responsibility of Vice President of the UNESCO General Assembly and was elected as a member of the World Heritage Committee, a member of 5/5 important mechanisms of UNESCO. Vietnam has been in the group of countries playing a key role in deciding on UNESCO issues as well as submitting dossiers for recognition, as well as preserving and promoting the value of world heritages in UNESCO member countries. As a developing country, Vietnam's brand ranked 32/193 countries. In November 2023, Japan opened e-visas for Vietnamese tourists, and South Korea relaxed requirements for granting work visas to 16 countries, including Vietnam. For the locality and its people, 60 UNESCO honors not only increase the pride of the people but also the prestige and image of the locality. Ninh Binh, by promoting heritage values, of which Trang An World Heritage Site is the core, has effectively transformed the economic structure. Currently, only 10% of the province's workforce is in agriculture, 45% in industrial parks, and 45% in tourism. Agriculture also focuses on clean, unique, endemic, and specialty products for tourism. Tourism revenue in 2023 will jump, double the revenue in 2019. Thus, the achievements of cultural diplomacy over the past years, especially in 2023, will not only contribute to making Vietnam's "soft power" tree grow stronger and spread wider, but also spread those results to localities and penetrate deeply into the lives of many people across the country. Recently, Vietnam was elected Vice President of the UNESCO General Assembly, representing Asia - Pacific and a member of the World Heritage Committee. How will the Ministry of Foreign Affairs apply UNESCO's ideas and experiences to promote cultural diplomacy, especially in introducing UNESCO heritages in Vietnam to the world? We are very proud that Vietnam was elected as one of the Vice Presidents of the UNESCO General Assembly at the 42nd Session, representing the Asia - Pacific region and was elected to the World Heritage Committee with a very high number of votes. This is a new success of Vietnam in the process of implementing the Resolution of the 13th National Congress on multilateralization, diversification and comprehensive, extensive and effective international integration, promoting and elevating multilateral diplomacy. This is also proof that we have gone in the right direction, effectively implementing the Cultural Diplomacy Strategy to 2030, receiving widespread support from countries. Realizing that this is a good opportunity for Vietnam to proactively and actively contribute more substantially to the process of operating and shaping important policies and decisions of UNESCO, contributing to protecting national interests, serving the cause of national construction and development, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Vietnamese representative agencies abroad will synchronously deploy and realize ideas to take advantage of UNESCO's initiatives, together preserving and promoting cultural values, heritages and other UNESCO titles of Vietnam.

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh and his Belarusian counterpart Roman Golovchenko over a cup of coffee near the Hanoi Flag Tower on December 8. (Photo: Nhu Y)

On the international front, Vietnam will join 20 member countries of the World Heritage Committee in contributing to the conservation and promotion of the value of 1,199 world heritages (933 cultural heritages, 227 natural heritages, 39 mixed heritages, 56 heritages in danger); manage the World Heritage Fund; have a say in the registration of new world heritages, as well as support African countries, small developing island states... to build heritage profiles that these countries submit, thereby enhancing the position, role and prestige of Vietnam to international friends. From the perspective of national development, this is a valuable opportunity for us to promote the image of the country and people of Vietnam; Accumulate and update good lessons and experiences in conservation, management and resource mobilization to promote the value of Vietnam's world heritages recognized by UNESCO, contributing to the development of tourism products and services, improving livelihoods and quality of life for people, making practical and effective contributions to the sustainable development of localities.

National Assembly Chairman Vuong Dinh Hue presents a book by General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong to President of the National Assembly of the People's Power of the Republic of Cuba Esteban Lazo Hernandez. (Photo: VNA)

In October 2024, the Vietnam National Commission for UNESCO will join UNESCO and Cao Bang Province to organize the 8th Conference of UNESCO Global Geoparks in the Asia-Pacific region. The event is expected to have the participation of UNESCO leaders, ambassadors, experts and representatives of localities with geoparks from 44 countries in the region. This could be the largest cultural diplomacy activity that Vietnam will host in 2024. Thank you, Deputy Minister.

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