Tightening diplomatic relations through the multinational cultural space
The opening event of the first World Cultural Festival in Hanoi was attended by Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh, Ms. Ngo Phuong Ly - wife of General Secretary To Lam, representative of UNESCO, leaders of ministries, departments, branches and ambassadories of many countries.
With the goal of honoring cultural diversity values and enhancing people-to-people exchanges, the World Cultural Festival also demonstrates the spirit of solidarity and cooperation between Vietnam and international friends.
The event brings together 48 participating countries with: 45 national cultural spaces; 34 international food stalls; 23 domestic and foreign art troupes; 12 book and book introduction and publishing units; 22 countries participating in international film screenings.
Speaking at the ceremony, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh emphasized that culture is the pink fiber connecting people with people, between countries, and connecting the world together.
The Prime Minister hopes that ministries, branches, localities, especially countries with relations with Vietnam, will continue to respond to the annual World Cultural Festival. From there, this diplomatic event will become a brand, continuing to make culture an endogenous strength, a strength of solidarity, and a strength of international solidarity.
Mr. Jonathan Wallace Senior, Chief Representative of UNESCO in Vietnam, said: "The festival brings together artists, communities and countries to share traditional values and innovate, to listen to each other and affirm that cultural differences do not divide us, but truly connect us together. UNESCO is proud to accompany Vietnam on that meaningful journey".
In particular, with the theme "Joining hands with people in flooded areas", the Festival shows culture not only honoring beauty and creativity, but also a source of inspiration for compassion, recovery and solidarity.
Artistic colors blend with the journey of experience
The opening ceremony took place at the central stage, combining interactive art performances and eye-catching 3D Mapping presentations. In particular, the highlight of the event was the special ceremony - the Prime Minister and leaders painted colorful ceramic paintings, symbolizing the cultural harmony between ethnic groups.
Within the framework of the Opening Ceremony, the audience enjoyed many unique art performances from Vietnam and countries around the world. From folk melodies and beliefs of Vietnam such as "The Highlands Sister" to traditional Lao dance, vibrant drum beats of the performance of Latin America... All together create a cultural "song harmony", where the audience clearly feels the spirit of integration and the honor of global cultural diversity.
After the opening ceremony, visitors have the opportunity to walk around the cultural space of countries attending the Festival. Each booth is a "minoral identity", where countries introduce their unique cultural features through costumes, cuisine, handicrafts and traditional arts.
Here, visitors can explore water puppetry, listen to Vietnamese artisans introduce Bat Trang ceramics... At foreign booths such as Thailand, Peru, Cuba, Malaysia, Sri Lanka... visitors can enjoy dishes, try traditional costumes and listen to interesting stories about the culture of each ethnic group.
Not only stopping at eye-catching art performances, the World Cultural Festival in Hanoi also brings a journey of multi-sensory experiences, where Vietnamese and world cultures blend together in a space of colorful exchange.
The program demonstrates the culture of sharing, helping each other with national love and compatriotism
Speaking at the first World Culture Festival in Hanoi, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh said that Vietnam is currently experiencing a natural disaster of "storm on storm, flood on flood", Vietnam had to suffer 8 storms in the third quarter, and 4 storms in September alone, a part of the people are struggling with difficulties caused by natural disasters, the Prime Minister sent his most profound greetings and sharing to localities and families who have suffered losses and damages to people and property; at the same time, called for the contribution, solidarity and sharing of compatriots nationwide and international friends for those who are heavily affected by natural disasters.
The Prime Minister also highly appreciated the program for demonstrating the strong momentum of Vietnamese cultural identity, including the culture of sharing, the culture of helping each other with national affection and compatriotism; contributing to sharing and sending affection in many different forms to compatriots suffering the consequences of climate change, including the current storms and floods.
"We will continue to promote the role of culture as an endogenous strength, at the same time a strength of solidarity, a strength of international solidarity, sharing together in the face of natural disasters and the consequences of climate change, which are all-people, comprehensive and global, requiring international solidarity, promoting multilateralism and mutual assistance, including cultural strings" - Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh said.
