Culture set to bring Vietnam closer to the world

Vietnam will continue to hold numerous cultural activities overseas in 2010 to promote its cultural diplomacy, said a meeting convened by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Hanoi on Jan. 22. The meeting was held to review such international out-reach activities in 2009 and draw up new tasks for 2010.
Speaking with the press after the meeting, the Director of the Department of Culture, External Relations and UNESCO, Pham Sanh Chau, said that in 2010 cultural diplomacy will focus on festivities to celebrate the 1000th anniversary of Thang Long-Hanoi.
As Vietnam chairs ASEAN in 2010, the Foreign Ministry will work with other ministries and agencies to design cultural events that can be integrated into political and economic activities involving Vietnam’s ranking leaders.
Chau said that over the past year, Vietnam carefully learned from the experiences of other countries around the world, and these lessons serve to inform the country in building its own strategy.
A legal corridor for cultural diplomacy has also been worked on, creating a new impetus for Vietnam’s international integration process.
Last year, Vietnam organised various cultural activities overseas to increase relations with foreign countries, such as Vietnam Week in Myanmar and a Vietnam cultural exhibition in Japan.