VietNamNet Bridge – Experts in the field of art and cultural management have gathered at a workshop in Ninh Binh to discuss ways to promote Vietnamese culture abroad.

Focusing on the theme "International experience of building external cultural strategies by 2020, with a vision to 2030", the event, organised by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, saw discussion focus on a range of initiatives to set up and tighten relations with other countries.

Workshop participants also discussed ways to promote the image of Viet Nam abroad, with a focus on its unique cultural and natural heritage. They also called on the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) to grant further recognition of Viet Nam's natural and cultural heritage offerings.

Speaking at the event on Wednesday, the deputy minister for culture, sports and tourism, Ho Anh Tuan, affirmed the importance of heritage to sustainable development and the unique virtues of Vietnamese culture.

The Central Resolution No 33-NQ/TW, issued on June 9, emphasied the role of culture in the country's development and placed cultural development at the same level of importance as the economy and politics.

Under the strategy to 2020 and vision to 2030, Viet Nam would endeavour to further expand cultural co-operation with other countries and diversify its approach to promoting Vietnamese culture on the international stage.

Talking about the contribution of local media to the promotion of culture overseas, head of the External Information Department under the Ministry of Information and Communications, Le Van Nghiem stressed that culture played a vital role in promoting Viet Nam abroad.

The current scope of media, including 977 newspapers, one news agency, 67 radio and television stations, 74 e-newspapers and e-magazines, and nearly 1,100 news sites, had played the primary role in exporting Viet Nam's culture to foreign countries, said Nghiem.

Nghiem also said his department had suggested professional media productions and cooperation with the private sector was needed to design and promote a unique cultural trademark and cultural symbols.

The culture sector is currently required to align its media strategies with the external promotion programme. Media professionals also needed to join with foreign media outlets to showcase Vietnamese culture on the world stage.

Speaking at the workshop, Tran Thi Hoang Mai, deputy head of the Department of External Culture and UNESCO under the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, said it was necessary to continue the implementation of external cultural strategies.

Nghiem added that other initiatives needed to be implemented, including the nurturing of professionals for external cultural missions, linking external cultural plans with Vietnamese communities abroad, driving the development of cultural diplomacy, and teasing out key elements of Vietnamese culture to develop a cultural brand.

Jacob Green, head of the Press and Communication and Culture of the Danish Embassy in Ha Noi also spoke at the event, describing the important role of culture in globalisation and building strong partnerships.

Denmark launched efforts in culture and art co-operation with Viet Nam in 2005 under a comprehensive programme, and with a budget of US$3 million.

"During our co-operation we have witnessed great changes and development when it comes to the culture and art scenes in Viet Nam over the years," Green said.

"We like to think that we have contributed to the positive development and we are happy to continue our close co-operation with Viet Nam in the future."

The Danish diplomat also said that since 2010, his government had carried out a strategy for international cultural relations, with a focus on bilateral cultural exchange and co-operation.

"The implementation of the strategy had led to a substantial strengthening of the Danish art and culture scene.

"With the strategy, the way has been paved for many strong partnerships between artists and cultural institutions, as well as artists and cultural institutions abroad," he said.

VNS/VNN