Promoting Vietnamese culture essential for international integration

HÀ NỘI Minister of Foreign Affairs Bùi Thanh Sơn and diplomatic officials have given their thoughts on cultural diplomacy, and the Prime Minister's strategy to showcase Việt Nam's heritage on the world stage. 

Culture has always been considered by the Party and State as the motivation for development, the spiritual foundation of society, and the goal and motivation for the country’s sustainable development.

The country’s leaders often stressed that “culture should be put on equal terms with economics and politics”.

This affirmation is a continuation of President Hồ Chí Minh’s thoughts on the pivotal role of culture in society. The late president once said: “Culture lights the way for national advancement.” 

In other words, culture is considered one of the deciding factors for the building and development of the country.

Cultural diplomacy refers to international activities that serve to exchange values between nations, bringing forward mutual understanding and laying a foundation for the fulfillment of political, economic, national defence, and security missions.

In the diplomacy strategy of any country around the world, cultural diplomacy is always one of the fundamental, crucial missions and factors that brings national strength and diplomatic identity. In Việt Nam, it is an area that the Party and State pay special attention to, especially after the cultural diplomacy strategy towards 2020 was approved by the then Prime Minister Nguyễn Tấn Dũng in 2011. 

Ten years later, on November 30, 2021, six days after the National Cultural Conference was held by the Politburo and the Secretariat of the Party Central Committee, a cultural diplomacy strategy towards 2030 was approved by Prime Minister Phạm Minh Chính. 

It sets the goal of integrating culture in diplomatic activities to deepen and stabilise Việt Nam’s relations with other countries, ensure the benefits of the nation and people, create favourable conditions for socio-economic development, and promote the country’s cultural values and beauty.

As the country enters a new period of development after the 13th National Party Congress, cultural diplomacy, together with political and economic diplomacy, will continue to make essential contributions to the country’s peace, stability and growth.

In the future it will also take on the mission of igniting and maximising the potential and strength of Vietnamese culture, said Foreign Minister Sơn, so that culture will truly become an intrinsic power that attracts external resources. A comprehensive implementation of cultural diplomacy will be an important component of a modern, inclusive Vietnamese diplomacy./.