Prime Minister: Promoting the role of culture as endogenous strength, strength of international solidarity, sharing together in the face of natural disasters

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh emphasized: "We will continue to promote the role of culture as an endogenous strength, as well as a connecting strength, a strength of international solidarity, sharing together in the face of natural disasters and the consequences of climate change, which are of a national, comprehensive and global nature."

On the evening of October 10, at the Thang Long Imperial Citadel Heritage Center, the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism coordinated with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Hanoi People's Committee to organize the "First World Cultural Festival in Hanoi". Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh attended the opening ceremony.

Also attending the opening ceremony were Ms. Ngo Phuong Ly - Wife of General Secretary To Lam; Member of the Party Central Committee, Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Nguyen Van Hung; Alternate Member of the Party Central Committee, Permanent Deputy Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Le Hai Binh and leaders of several central ministries and branches; Mr. Jonathan Wallace Baker, Chief Representative of the United Nations Educational , Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) in Vietnam; 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 all over the world and a large number of people in Hanoi.

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh attends the opening ceremony of the "First World Cultural Festival in Hanoi"

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

According to the Prime Minister, culture is the "red thread" connecting people, connecting countries, connecting the world; culture has no borders.

Assessing the first World Cultural Festival in 2025 as an event connecting the Vietnamese people with peoples around the world, the Prime Minister expressed his thanks for the presence of the delegates and said that although "all beginnings are difficult", the relevant parties have tried very hard to organize the Festival and thereby bring joy and cultural enjoyment of peoples around the world to Vietnam and of Vietnam to peoples and countries around the world.

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh speaks at the opening ceremony

Noting that Vietnam is currently experiencing a period of natural disasters, "storm upon storm, flood upon flood", in the third quarter Vietnam suffered 8 storms, 4 storms in September alone, a part of the population is struggling with the difficulties caused by natural disasters, the Prime Minister sent his deepest condolences to the localities and families that have suffered losses and damage to people and property; at the same time, he called for contributions, cooperation and sharing from the people of the whole country and international friends for those who are being severely affected by natural disasters.

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh said that President Ho Chi Minh, the great national hero and world cultural celebrity of Vietnam, pointed out that "culture lights the way for the nation"; the Communist Party of Vietnam identifies culture as an endogenous strength, culture is scientific, national and popular.

The Prime Minister and delegates performed a special ceremony (painting five-color ceramic paintings) to open the Festival.

Currently, Vietnam is continuing to concretize this cultural line of the Communist Party of Vietnam so that culture is truly an endogenous strength, connecting people to people, connecting economies; promoting the development of cultural industry, entertainment industry, contributing to the internationalization of Vietnam's culture imbued with national identity to international friends and the nationalization of the world's civilization into Vietnam.

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  Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh attended the opening ceremony of the first World Cultural Festival in Hanoi.

Stating that if this can be done, it will contribute to making people enjoy more national culture and world civilization. The Prime Minister hopes that ministries, branches, localities and especially countries and international partners will continue to respond to the World Cultural Festival organized annually by Vietnam.

The Prime Minister respectfully thanked Mrs. Ngo Phuong Ly, wife of General Secretary To Lam, for her great idea of ​​the World Cultural Festival; and thanked the ministries, branches, and foreign representative agencies in Vietnam for their contributions to organizing the Festival.

At the same time, the Prime Minister also highly appreciated the program for its strong expression of Vietnamese cultural identity, including the culture of sharing and helping each other with national and compatriot sentiment; contributing to sharing and sending feelings 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, as well as a connecting strength, a strength of international solidarity, sharing together in the face of natural disasters and the consequences of climate change, which are of a national, comprehensive and global nature, requiring international solidarity, upholding multilateralism and mutual assistance, including the cultural bond," the Prime Minister said.

Mr. Jonathan Wallace Baker, UNESCO Representative in Vietnam, spoke

In a speech sharing many similar views with Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh, Mr. Jonathan Wallace Baker, Chief Representative of UNESCO in Vietnam, stated that for a long time, Hanoi has been a bridge between cultures, a city where traditional values ​​intersect with creativity.

He said that UNESCO was honored to accompany the opening ceremony of the first Hanoi World Cultural Festival on October 10, in the thousand-year-old capital, Thang Long - Hanoi, at the center of power throughout the city's history, the Imperial Citadel of Thang Long, a UNESCO-recognized World Heritage Site, which has continued to demonstrate the enduring spirit of the Vietnamese people.

Art program at the opening ceremony

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 UNESCO Representative in Vietnam also expressed UNESCO's deep sympathy and solidarity with the areas affected by the recent natural disasters.

“Our condolences go out to the families who have lost their homes and loved ones. In these difficult times, culture reminds us of our roots, which are the roots of resilience, compassion, and the capacity to rebuild our lives together,” said Jonathan Wallace Baker.

The Festival, he said, embodied this spirit and showed that culture not only celebrates beauty and creativity—but is also a source of inspiration for compassion, resilience, and solidarity; “affirming that cultural differences do not divide us, but actually connect us together.”

Recalling UNESCO's cooperation activities in the Hanoi World Culture Festival with the message "creativity and humanity always go together", he affirmed that each activity demonstrates UNESCO's common commitment to Hanoi and Vietnam: Putting culture at the heart 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 culture connects, humanity unites. Together, let us build a future where culture inspires solidarity and resilience in the face of adversity - right here in Hanoi and around the world," emphasized the UNESCO Representative in Vietnam.

The first World Cultural Festival in Hanoi will take place from October 10 to 12 at the Thang Long Heritage Conservation Center - Hanoi (Thang Long Imperial Citadel Central Relic Site). During the Festival, the Organizing Committee will hold a charity auction and collect donations to support people affected by storms and floods.

Source: https://bvhttdl.gov.vn/thu-tuong-phat-huy-vai-tro-cua-van-hoa-la-suc-manh-noi-sinh-suc-manh-doan-ket-quoc-te-cung-nhau-se-chia-truoc-thien-tai-20251010230146324.htm