Prime Minister: World Culture Festival in Hanoi 'shares with people affected by natural disasters'

10/10/2025 22:04

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh and Mrs. Ngo Phuong Ly, wife of General Secretary To Lam, attended the opening ceremony of the first World Cultural Festival in Hanoi - Photo: VGP/Nhat Bac

Also attending were Mrs. Ngo Phuong Ly, wife of General Secretary To Lam; leaders of several central ministries and agencies; Mr. Jonathan Wallace Baker, Head of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) Representative Office in Vietnam; the Head of the Diplomatic Corps in Hanoi, Ambassador of the State of Palestine to Vietnam Saadi Salama; members of the diplomatic corps, artists and ambassadors of cultures from around the world.

Taking place from October 10th to 12th with the spirit of "Connecting - Sharing - Spreading Love," the festival brought together a large number of international friends, artists, social organizations, businesses, and Vietnamese people to support communities severely affected by natural disasters. The event also demonstrated international solidarity in jointly responding to global challenges, especially climate change. The festival space was vibrant with traditional dances, costume displays, international cuisine , and Vietnamese artistic performances conveying the message "the world shares a common heartbeat of love."

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh visits the national cultural spaces of the countries participating in the Festival - Photo: VGP/Nhat Bac

The official opening ceremony was held in the heritage center with the art program "Colors of Vietnam - Rhythms of the World," showcasing typical Vietnamese heritage such as Quan Ho folk singing from Bac Ninh, Hue royal court music, Central Highlands gong music, Southern folk singing, Hat Van singing, and Thang Long Xam singing... Along with that, art troupes from many countries contributed to creating a vibrant tapestry of world culture. The opening night concluded with the performance "We Are The World," spreading a message of friendship, solidarity, and peace.

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh and delegates performed a special ceremony (painting on five-colored ceramic tiles) to inaugurate the festival; and visited the national cultural spaces of various countries.

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh delivers the opening speech at the first World Cultural Festival in Hanoi - Photo: VGP/Nhat Bac

Culture - an inherent strength, a force for international solidarity.

Speaking at the ceremony, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh conveyed the respectful greetings, heartfelt regards, and best wishes of General Secretary To Lam and other Party and State leaders to the delegates.

According to the Prime Minister, culture is the "red thread" that connects people, nations, and the world; culture knows no borders. Evaluating the first World Culture Festival in 2025 as an event connecting the Vietnamese people with peoples around the world, the Prime Minister expressed gratitude for the delegates' presence and stated that although "every beginning is difficult," all parties involved have made great efforts in organizing the Festival, thereby bringing joy and cultural enjoyment to Vietnam and to other nations around the world.

Noting that Vietnam is currently experiencing a series of natural disasters, with storms upon storms and floods upon floods, including 8 storms in the third quarter and 4 in September alone, and a segment of the population struggling with the difficulties caused by these disasters, the Prime Minister extended his deepest condolences and sympathy to the localities and families who have suffered losses of life and property; and called for contributions, solidarity, and sharing from people nationwide and international friends to support those severely affected by the natural disasters.

Mrs. Ngo Phuong Ly, wife of General Secretary To Lam, performs a special ceremony (painting on five-colored ceramic tiles) to inaugurate the festival - Photo: VGP/Nhat Bac

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh stated that President Ho Chi Minh, the great national hero and world cultural figure of Vietnam, clearly indicated that "culture illuminates the path for the nation to follow"; the Communist Party of Vietnam identifies culture as an intrinsic strength, possessing scientific, national, and popular characteristics.

Currently, Vietnam is continuing to concretize this cultural policy of the Communist Party of Vietnam so that culture truly becomes an intrinsic strength, connecting people with each other and connecting economies; promoting the development of cultural and entertainment industries, contributing to the internationalization of Vietnam's rich national culture to international friends and the nationalization of world civilization into Vietnam.

Stating that achieving this would contribute to enabling the people to enjoy more of the nation's culture and world civilization, the Prime Minister expressed his hope that ministries, sectors, localities, and especially international partners and countries would continue to support the World Culture Festival organized annually by Vietnam.

The Prime Minister expressed his sincere gratitude to Mrs. Ngo Phuong Ly, wife of General Secretary To Lam, for her excellent idea of ​​the World Cultural Festival; and thanked the ministries, departments, and foreign representative offices in Vietnam for their contributions to organizing the Festival.

At the same time, the Prime Minister also highly appreciated the program for its rich expression of Vietnamese cultural identity, including the culture of sharing and mutual assistance with national solidarity and brotherhood; contributing to sharing and conveying feelings in various forms to people suffering the consequences of climate change, including the current storms and floods.

"We will continue to promote the role of culture as an intrinsic strength, as well as a unifying force, a strength of international solidarity, sharing the burden in the face of natural disasters and the consequences of climate change, which are universal, comprehensive, and global in nature, requiring international solidarity, upholding multilateralism and mutual assistance, including the cultural bond," the Prime Minister stated.

Mr. Jonathan Wallace Baker, Head of UNESCO Representative Office in Vietnam, delivers a speech - Photo: VGP/Nhat Bac

  When cultures connect, humanity will unite.

In a speech sharing many similar views with Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh, Jonathan Wallace Baker, Head of UNESCO's Representative Office in Vietnam, noted that Hanoi has long been a bridge between cultures, a city where traditional values ​​intersect with creativity.

He stated that UNESCO was honored to be a part of the opening ceremony of the first Hanoi World Culture Festival on October 10th, in the thousand-year-old capital, Thang Long – Hanoi, at the center of power throughout the city's history. Thang Long Imperial Citadel, a UNESCO World Heritage site, has been and continues to demonstrate the enduring spirit of the Vietnamese people.

Congratulating the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and the Hanoi People's Committee for realizing this inspiring initiative, the Head of UNESCO's Representative Office in Vietnam also expressed UNESCO's deep sympathy and solidarity with the areas affected by the recent natural disasters.

Art program at the Festival - Photo: VGP/Nhat Bac

"We extend our deepest condolences to the families who have lost their homes and loved ones. In these difficult times, culture reminds us of our roots, the roots of resilience, compassion, and the ability to rebuild lives together," said Jonathan Wallace Baker.

He assessed that the festival clearly demonstrated the aforementioned spirit and showed that culture not only celebrates beauty and creativity but also inspires compassion, recovery, and solidarity; "affirming that cultural differences do not divide us, but actually connect us."

Recalling UNESCO's collaborative activities in the Hanoi World Culture Festival with the message "creativity and humanity always go hand in hand," he affirmed that each activity reflects UNESCO's shared commitment to Hanoi and to Vietnam: placing culture at the center of sustainable development, empowering communities, and promoting creativity as a driving force for inclusion and resilience.

"Let this festival be remembered—not only for its colors and performances—but also for its message: When cultures connect, humanity unites. Let us together build a future where culture inspires solidarity and resilience in the face of adversity—right here in Hanoi and around the world," emphasized the Head of UNESCO's Representative Office in Vietnam.

Source: https://baochinhphu.vn/thu-tuong-le-hoi-van-hoa-the-gioi-tai-ha-noi-se-chia-voi-dong-bao-bi-thien-tai-102251010220038978.htm