With a culture rich in identity and great achievements in the development process, Vietnam possesses valuable assets of "soft power", which need to be promoted, creating new momentum to increase "Vietnam's recognition" on a global scale.
On the occasion of the Vietnamese delegation led by Deputy Foreign Minister Ha Kim Ngoc attending the 42nd Session of the UNESCO General Assembly, attending special cultural events, notably the opening ceremony of Vietnam Day in France 2023, Vietnamese Ambassador to France Dinh Toan Thang shared about the significance of cultural diplomacy efforts in France.
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| Artists perform Vietnamese traditional musical instruments in the program "Vietnam Day in France", November 6. (Source: VNA) |
Could you please share the meaning and highlights of the Vietnamese Cultural Day event in France this time?
The Vietnamese Cultural Day in France held this time is an important event, on the occasion of the year celebrating major milestones in the relationship between the two countries, namely five decades of diplomatic relations and 10 years of Strategic Partnership, contributing to enhancing the mark for the proud development of the Vietnam - France relationship.
Various activities have been carried out since the beginning of next year in both countries in the fields of politics, exchanges between high-ranking leaders of the two countries, promoting economic, trade and investment cooperation, science and technology, education and training... along with a series of cultural and artistic performances, exchanges in painting, cinema, sports, and exchanges in the fields of heritage, conservation - museums, and cuisine, reflecting the rich and profound development of the relationship between the two countries.
Vietnam Cultural Day is an opportunity for both sides to continue to foster friendship and create momentum for bilateral cooperation. The timing of the event is significant, just a few weeks after the phone call between General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong and French President E. Macron. It can be said that this is also the first step in implementing one of the contents agreed upon by the High-ranking Leaders at the phone call, which is to enhance people-to-people exchange, one of the five pillars of the Vietnam - France Strategic Partnership.
What message does the Ambassador want to convey through this meaningful event?
Vietnam - France relations have had an important accumulation in both quantity and quality. We are witnessing the great response of partners and friends in Vietnam as well as France to the exciting activities within the framework of this anniversary year. The positive results and rich connotations are important foundations for the partners of both sides to continue to bring their connections and develop more deeply.
The common perception between the two countries about the vision of the Strategic Partnership gives us confidence in the bright prospects of the Vietnam - France relationship in the future.
In that spirit, the Vietnam Day in France 2023 event continues to affirm the appreciation for the proud development journey in the relationship between the two countries, while emphasizing the message of wishing that Vietnam and France will make efforts to strengthen cooperation to pave the way for the relationship to reach new heights.
| Sharing about Vietnam Day in France, Deputy Foreign Minister Ha Kim Ngoc said that the event brings "a beautiful, peaceful, hospitable, dynamically developing Vietnam, rich in cultural traditions" closer to French friends and people. |
“Vietnam Heritage Night” or Vietnam Cultural Day in Saintes… are outstanding cultural diplomacy events in the past year that the Embassy successfully organized in your country. Why did the Ambassador choose culture as one of the focuses of implementation in this special year of the relationship between the two countries?
Culture is Vietnam's strength, always a great "asset" of the nation and of foreign affairs. The Cultural Diplomacy Strategy to 2030 identifies cultural diplomacy as contributing to deepening and stabilizing Vietnam's relations with partners; ensuring national interests, creating and maintaining a peaceful and stable environment; mobilizing external resources, turning favorable conditions and the country's position into resources for socio-economic development; at the same time honoring the values and beauty of Vietnamese culture, absorbing the quintessence of human culture, thereby arousing the aspiration to develop the country, enhancing soft power, and enhancing the national position.
Identifying this as one of the five pillars of the Vietnam - France Strategic Partnership, the Vietnamese Embassy in France is always aware of and strives to implement cultural diplomacy activities to contribute to preserving and enhancing the image of the Vietnamese people, a people close to the French people, a people rich in humanity, brave in the struggle for independence and freedom, at the same time very dynamic, creative and successful in building and developing the country, strongly integrating with the region and the world.
With a long tradition of relations, the French people have sympathy for the people and country of Vietnam, always supporting exchange and cooperation activities between the two countries in recent times in all forms and levels, both central and local.
Cultural activities, solidarity, mutual love and humanitarianism always attract a large number of participants. Thus, promoting culture combined with people-to-people exchange creates a favorable basis for promoting the role and image of Vietnam in France.
“Sharing culture” is the theme of the 50th anniversary of bilateral relations, reflected in the logo of 50 years of diplomatic relations. According to the Ambassador, why is culture so important in “bridging” bilateral relations?
France is a place with many advantages to implement cultural diplomacy, with many materials and playgrounds to express. France and the French people always respect and promote culture, love to explore, so approaching all issues from a cultural perspective is an attractive method and easy to achieve success.
The Vietnamese community in France is a large community, attached to the homeland and oriented towards the country, so cultural activities and associations organized by our overseas Vietnamese in France easily mobilize the participation of many people.
The Vietnamese Cultural Center in France, one of two Vietnamese Cultural Centers abroad, has over the years successfully promoted its functions and tasks of promoting Vietnamese culture in France and Europe. Vietnam Airlines has direct flights and operates many flights per week, also facilitating the connection between the two countries. In recent times, the Embassy has implemented a series of rich and diverse activities, spread across all regions of France, creating a ripple effect to many classes of people and partners on the French side.
It can be said that the cultural diplomacy work in the area has taken advantage of the cultural closeness and sympathy between the two peoples to carry out activities to introduce and promote Vietnamese culture continuously throughout the year, attracting great attention from the French people, combining the promotion of the image of Vietnam, while contributing to strengthening the social foundation with a pervasive effect for the Vietnam - France relationship and expanding and exploiting more effectively the rich partnership system between the two countries.
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| The dragon dance performance impressed many guests at the event “Colors of Vietnamese Culture” at UNESCO headquarters. (Source: VNA) |
From those practical implementations, how does the Ambassador evaluate the role of cultural diplomacy today?
The role of cultural diplomacy is affirmed in the Documents of the 13th National Party Congress, specifically as "practical contribution to strongly promoting the national image and enhancing the country's overall strength".
In the context of the complicated world situation, promoting the national image and enhancing soft power have become the focus of all countries, contributing to enhancing their position. As mentioned above, our Cultural Diplomacy Strategy to 2030 has also emphasized this.
With a culture rich in identity and great achievements in the development process, Vietnam possesses valuable assets of "soft power" that need to be promoted, creating new momentum to increase "Vietnam's recognition" on a global scale.
This is the task of Vietnamese representative agencies abroad, to continuously innovate and create ways to promote the image of the country, culture and people of Vietnam, while contributing to promoting coordination with increasingly diverse partners.
Thank you Ambassador!
On November 6, at the UNESCO headquarters in Paris, France, the “Vietnamese Cultural Night - Vietnamese Colors” took place before the 42nd Session of the UNESCO General Assembly. The event attracted the participation of nearly 200 ambassadors, representatives of member countries and UNESCO leaders. At the event, Deputy Foreign Minister Ha Kim Ngoc emphasized the role of cultural heritage as a source of inspiration for creativity, a bridge for exchange and understanding between nations, and a foundation for building a better future. Respecting and protecting each nation’s cultural heritage will strengthen solidarity, reduce violence and conflict, and promote peace and sustainable development. |
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