Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh: Culture is the ‘crimson thread’ connecting people, nations and the world
WVR - On the evening of October 10, the Opening ceremony of the first World Culture Festival in Hanoi took place at the Thang Long Imperial Citadel. During his address at the Opening Ceremony, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh emphasised the need to continue promoting the role of culture as an intrinsic strength and a unifying force for international solidarity, joining hands to share and support one another in the face of natural disasters and the consequences of climate change.
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Attending the event were Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh; Madame Ngo Phuong Ly, Spouse of General Secretary To Lam; Mr Nguyen Van Hung, Member of the Party Central Committee and Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism; Mr Le Hai Binh, Alternate Member of the Party Central Committee and Standing Deputy Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism; Mr Nguyen Manh Cuong, Member of the Party Central Committee and Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs; Mr Jonathan Wallace Baker, Chief Representative of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) in Vietnam; Mrs Pham Thi Thanh Mai, Vice Chairwoman of the Hanoi People’s Council; Mr Saadi Salama, Ambassador of Palestine to Vietnam and Head of the Diplomatic Corps; Ambassador of Laos to Vietnam Khamphao Ernthavanh, Ambassador of Belarus U. Baravikou, along with other members of the diplomatic corps, artists, and cultural ambassadors from around the world.
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| Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh and Madame Ngo Phuong Ly, Spouse of General Secretary To Lam, attended the event. (Photo: Tran Huan) |
Delivering remarks at the event, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh conveyed the respectful greetings, warm regards and best wishes of General Secretary To Lam and other leaders of the Party and the State to all distinguished guests.
The Prime Minister expressed his appreciation for the attendance of delegates and all stakeholders who had worked hard to organise the Festival, thereby bringing joy and cultural enrichment to people around the world.
Noting that Vietnam is currently experiencing a period of “storm after storm, floods upon floods”, the Prime Minister extended his deepest sympathies to the localities and families suffering losses of life and property. He called for solidarity, contributions and support from people across the country and from international friends to assist those severely affected by natural disasters.
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| Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh speaking at the event. (Photo: Tran Huan) |
Recalling President Ho Chi Minh’s statement at the first National Cultural Conference in 1946 that “Culture lights the way for the nation to go forward”, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh emphasised that the Party has always attached great importance to cultural development, considering culture as an intrinsic source of strength that connects people and economies.
At present, Vietnam continues to concretise this cultural orientation of the Communist Party of Vietnam by promoting the development of the cultural and creative industries, contributing to the internationalisation of Vietnamese culture imbued with national identity while embracing the quintessence of world civilisation.
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| Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh visits the cultural booths of participating countries at the Festival. (Photo: Tran Huan) |
The Prime Minister extended sincere thanks to Mrs Ngo Phuong Ly, Spouse of General Secretary To Lam, for her meaningful initiative to launch the World Culture Festival. He also expressed his hope that ministries, agencies, localities, as well as countries and international partners, would continue to support the annual organisation of the World Culture Festival in Vietnam.
Emphasising the role of culture as a “crimson thread” connecting people, nations and the world, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh highly valued the programme for reflecting the richness of cultural identities, including the culture of compassion and mutual assistance rooted in national solidarity.
“We will continue to promote the role of culture as both an intrinsic strength and a unifying force for international solidarity, sharing in the face of natural disasters and the consequences of climate change”, he stated.
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| Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh, Madame Ngo Phuong Ly and Ambassador U. Baravikou at the Belarusian pavilion. (Photo: Embassy of Belarus in Vietnam) |
At the Festival, Mr Jonathan Wallace Baker, Chief Representative of UNESCO in Vietnam, expressed his deep emotion as the event was held on the occasion of the Capital Liberation Day (10 October) at the Thang Long Imperial Citadel - a UNESCO-recognised World Heritage site.
Especially, with deep sympathy and solidarity towards the areas affected by recent natural disasters, Mr Baker extended condolences to families who had lost their homes and loved ones.
“In these difficult moments, culture reminds us of our roots - of resilience, compassion and the collective power to rebuild our lives. Under the theme ‘Joining Hands with Flood-Stricken Communities’, the Festival demonstrates that culture not only celebrates beauty and creativity but also serves as a source of compassion, recovery and unity”, he emphasised.
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| Jonathan Wallace Baker, Chief Representative of UNESCO in Vietnam, delivers his remarks. (Photo: Tran Huan)
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On behalf of the UNESCO Office in Vietnam, Mr Baker congratulated the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Hanoi People’s Committee for realising this inspiring initiative. He remarked that the Festival brought together artists, communities, and nations to share traditional values and innovation, and to listen to one another.
He said: “Cultural diversity does not divide us; it truly connects us. UNESCO is proud to accompany Vietnam on this meaningful journey. Our cooperation in the Festival underlines that creativity and humanity always go hand in hand.
Every activity here reflects UNESCO’s shared commitment with Hanoi and with Vietnam: to place culture at the heart of sustainable development, to empower communities and to promote creativity as a driver for inclusiveness and resilience”.
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| Madame Ngo Phuong Ly, Spouse of General Secretary To Lam, and other delegates take part in the five-coloured ceramic painting ritual. (Photo: Phan Anh) |
The Opening Ceremony of the World Culture Festival in Hanoi was held at the central heritage site with an art performance titled “Colours of Vietnam - Rhythms of the World”.
The programme was a symphony of cultural expressions from 48 participating countries, featuring representatives from embassies and consulates in Hanoi.
On stage, traditional Vietnamese art forms such as Bac Ninh Quan ho folk songs, Hue royal court music, Southern amateur music (Don ca tai tu), Mother Goddess worship practices, and Hanoi xam singing were performed in a modern style.
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| The programme was a symphony of cultural expressions from 48 countries participating in the Festival. (Photo: Le An) |
Accompanying Vietnam were performances from Laos, Japan, Pakistan, Romania, India, Mongolia and others, delivering melodies and dances that conveyed messages of tradition and modernity. With 3D mapping visual effects, the stage was illuminated with vibrant cultural colours.
Another highlight of the evening was a special ritual in which Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh and other delegates painted a five-coloured ceramic artwork. Representatives from Vietnam and the diplomatic corps together poured five layers of coloured sand into a Vietnamese ceramic vase - symbolising the five continents and the five elements, embodying the profound depth of folk art and timeless cultural values nurtured through generations.
The ceremony concluded with the performance “We Are the World”, spreading the message of friendship, solidarity and peace.
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| The stage at Thang Long Imperial Citadel dazzling with the cultural colours of various countries. (Photo: Le An) |
| The first World Culture Festival in Hanoi is open to the public from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. on 11 and 12 October. Highlight activities include the fashion show “Heritage Steps”, 3D mapping displays, film screenings, and various cultural promotion videos showcased at the individual booths of participating countries. Within the framework of the event, a wide range of activities will take place, such as the Hanoi World Culture Day, Hanoi International Food Festival, film screenings, folk dances, art and costume exhibitions, the Ao Dai Festival and the Hanoi International Book Day. Along the “Cultural Avenue”, visitors can explore booths representing nearly 50 countries, including China, the Republic of Korea, Japan, the United States, Russia, Belarus, France, Iran, Angola, Laos and the Philippines... |
