Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh attends the opening ceremony of the World Cultural Festival.
TPO - The opening ceremony of the first World Culture Festival in Hanoi was held on the evening of October 10th at Thang Long Imperial Citadel. The festival aims to become an annual international cultural and diplomatic event. Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh attended and delivered a keynote address at the event.
The opening ceremony of the first World Culture Festival in Hanoi was held on the evening of October 10th at Thang Long Imperial Citadel . The festival, jointly organized by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism (MOCST), the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and the Hanoi People's Committee, aims to build a brand for an annual international cultural and diplomatic event, guided by the motto: "Culture as the foundation - Art as the means" to connect nations.
In his opening remarks at the festival, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh stated that culture is a "red thread" connecting people to people, connecting nations and countries, and connecting Vietnam with friends around the world .
Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh attends the opening ceremony of the first World Cultural Festival in Hanoi . Photo: Duy Pham.
The Prime Minister stated that the festival serves as a connection between Vietnam and other nations around the world, contributing to bringing joy, exchange, and cultural enjoyment to people at home as well as international friends.
The Prime Minister stated that, guided by the motto "Culture illuminates the path for the nation," the Vietnamese Party and State have always recognized culture as an intrinsic strength and the spiritual foundation of society. Today, Vietnam is concretizing this view by developing the cultural and entertainment industries. This contributes to bringing Vietnamese culture to the world, while simultaneously absorbing the finest aspects of human culture and blending them with national identity.
Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh delivers the opening speech at the first World Cultural Festival in Hanoi. Photo: Duy Pham.
At the time of the festival, Vietnam was battling a series of storms and floods. In September alone, Vietnam faced four typhoons. Currently, a significant portion of the population is still struggling with difficulties due to the impact of natural disasters, storms, and floods. At the festival, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh called for the collective support of the entire nation and international friends to overcome these difficulties and stabilize their lives.
Speaking at the opening ceremony, Jonathan Wallace Baker, UNESCO Representative in Vietnam, affirmed that the first World Cultural Festival in Hanoi clearly demonstrates the importance of culture at this time.
Mr. Jonathan Wallace Baker, Head of UNESCO's Representative Office in Vietnam, speaks at the opening ceremony of the festival. Photo: Duy Pham.
“In these difficult times, culture reminds us of our roots, the roots of resilience, compassion, and the ability to rebuild lives together. This festival clearly embodies that spirit. With the theme ' Joining Hands with Flood Victims ,' the festival shows that culture not only celebrates beauty and creativity, but also inspires compassion, recovery, and solidarity,” said Jonathan Wallace Baker.
Festivals are venues where nations share traditional values, foster innovation, listen to each other, and affirm that cultural differences can become a bridge connecting people.
Delegates perform a special ritual (painting on colorful ceramic tiles) to inaugurate the festival. Photo: Duy Pham.
Within the framework of the festival, in addition to the exhibition booths, UNESCO, in collaboration with Vietnam and Hanoi, organized activities such as experiencing Vietnamese tea culture and a workshop on " Youth in Hanoi - A Creative City of Design ." Each activity reflected UNESCO's shared commitment to Hanoi and Vietnam: placing culture at the center of sustainable development, empowering communities, and promoting creativity as a driving force for inclusion and resilience.
The festival brought together 48 participating countries, including 45 national cultural spaces, 34 international food stalls, 23 domestic and international art troupes, 12 book and publishing units, and 22 countries participating in the international film screening program.
Within the framework of the event, many diverse activities took place, such as the Hanoi World Culture Festival, the Hanoi International Culinary Program, film screenings, folk dances, fine arts, international costumes, the Ao Dai Festival, the Hanoi International Book Festival… creating a vibrant global experience in the heart of the capital city.
In addition, to demonstrate the spirit of mutual support and compassion, the festival organizers held a charity auction and fundraising program to support the reconstruction of houses, schools, and public facilities in localities damaged by floods.
Source: https://tienphong.vn/thu-tuong-pham-minh-chinh-du-khai-mac-le-hoi-van-hoa-the-gioi-post1786044.tpo