Reflecting on how to promote the country's image from CNN's story
Sharing at a thematic session on cultural diplomacy and foreign information within the framework of the activities of the 32nd Diplomatic Conference, Mr. Tran Nhat Hoang, Deputy Director of the Department of International Cooperation (Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism), used the story of CNN to show that if there is a new way of doing things, it will attract the attention of the world and bring about a huge impact.
Mr. Hoang said that when participating in EXPO Dubai 2020, the American CNN, which was looking for a story about innovation at the exhibition, came to learn from the Vietnamese delegation to make a report on the breakthrough innovations being introduced at the World Exhibition EXPO 2020 Dubai and broadcast it on a program called Innovate.
During the reception, Mr. Hoang said: "We invited them to eat pho, watch art, listen to the monochord, and then introduced a pair of shoes made from coffee grounds by two Vietnamese students in Finland."
Impressed by the story of young people interested in recycling, CNN traveled to Finland to meet the talented Vietnamese students behind the shoe brand Rens Original.
Two young Vietnamese talents behind a shoe brand made from coffee grounds.
After that, CNN spent a lot of time in the report talking about the two Vietnamese students' work and their dream of being able to produce shoes in their homeland.
In that video, CNN opened the introduction about Vietnam with impressive images of the Vietnam Exhibition Hall at EXPO 2002 Dubai with a cultural space imbued with Vietnamese culture.
"Amidst the sounds of traditional music and local artworks, I didn't expect to find cutting-edge technology. But it turns out that this place is filled with inspiring scientific innovations that all aim for sustainability," commented editor Giokos.
From this story, the image of Vietnam also spread more comprehensively and the shoe business of the two young people also had a big change.
Mr. Hoang believes that through this story we can see a message: "We have many good stories of Vietnamese people around the world, but we need to find a way to tell the Vietnamese story in a new way."
Mr. Hoang also pointed out the fact that the ability to transmit content today is not only created by state channels or large media corporations, but is being widely distributed.
With the development of media and social networks, Mr. Tran Nhat Hoang suggests taking advantage of the potential of "KOLs" (influencers) to organize and participate in this activity to be effective.
Sharing the same opinion, Deputy Minister of Information and Communications Nguyen Thanh Lam said that currently Vietnam is estimated to have about 20,000 personal accounts and media channels with 10,000 or more followers, with some channels having up to several million followers.
Deputy Minister of Information and Communications Nguyen Thanh Lam.
"This is a great potential, this force does not need a budget and only hopes to be recognized as people who do good for society and the country, spreading positive things on cyberspace. When participating in major issues of the country, they are very honored, ready and will bring their own resources to participate," Mr. Lam raised the issue.
For example, at the photo and video contest "Happy Vietnam" held on December 19, the awards ceremony was held. The entries were sent by both domestic and foreign people. The winning works were very good and could be used to promote the image of Vietnam and its people.
According to the experience of Vietnamese Ambassador to Finland Pham Thi Thanh Binh, Finland has a completely free bank of images, graphic videos, and information about Finland.
Every year, the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs organizes up to 400 visits to invite journalists and KOLs to learn about the country and widely share the national image and message.
However, to mobilize these resources, new mechanisms, policies and mobilization methods are needed.
People are messengers spreading Vietnamese culture
Besides, according to many Vietnamese Ambassadors abroad, deep down, people are the messengers, the most important factor in spreading Vietnamese culture to the world.
Sharing on the sidelines of the Diplomatic Conference, Vietnamese Ambassador to France Dinh Toan Thang said: "To talk about what impresses the French most, it is the Vietnamese people."
According to him, for the French, anyone who comes to Vietnam leaves a deep impression of the country and its people, from the attitude of receiving guests at the airport, hotels to tourist destinations. Even ordinary people selling bread and pho on the street leave beautiful images in the hearts of French tourists.
Vietnamese Ambassador to France Dinh Toan Thang.
"In my opinion, our greatest asset is our people. People carry out promotional tasks, people do tourism. People are "ambassadors" in each field promoting the country's image to international friends" - Mr. Thang said and emphasized that each citizen also needs to be aware of this when dealing with foreign friends.
Sharing the same opinion, Vietnamese Ambassador to Canada Pham Vinh Quang also said that Vietnamese people, especially the Vietnamese community living, studying and working in Canada, are cultural diplomacy ambassadors.
"They are the ones who convey the image and values of Vietnam in the most realistic and closest way to the Canadian people," he shared.
According to Ambassador Pham Vinh Quang, the image of Vietnam in the minds of many Canadians is a different picture.
Because Canada is quite far from Vietnam, many locals still see the country as a war-torn country. However, there are also perspectives on Vietnam's economic development.
For Canadians who have been to Vietnam, in their minds, Vietnam is a country with beautiful natural scenery and friendly people.
Therefore, efforts in public diplomacy and cultural diplomacy are needed to bring Canadians a more complete picture of Vietnam.
A clear example is how Ha Tinh is connecting Vietnamese intellectual resources abroad to serve the development and promotion of local culture.
Director of Ha Tinh Department of Foreign Affairs Thai Phuc Son said that with the motto that each Ha Tinh person abroad is a "Cultural Ambassador", the Ha Tinh community abroad is increasingly aware of the importance of maintaining and promoting Vietnamese cultural identity, Ha Tinh homeland traditions, preserving and promoting the Vietnamese language in the society in the host country.
"Many overseas intellectuals of Ha Tinh have made important contributions in building and protecting Ha Tinh's cultural heritage dossier to be recognized by UNESCO," said Mr. Son.
Source
Comment (0)