Hanoi (VNA) – Cultural diplomacy is an important component of Vietnam's comprehensive and modern diplomacy, a regular and continuous process, and a common task of the whole political system, stated Minister of Foreign Affairs Bui Thanh Son while chairing a July 9 meeting on the cultural diplomacy work for 2024.

Opening the event, which drew the in-person and online participation of 94 ambassadors and heads of Vietnamese representative agencies abroad as well as diplomatic officials, Son held that the world is facing a turning point to a new, multi-polar, multi-centre and multi-level structure, while geostrategic competition is getting fiercer with more complex hot spots and more obvious traditional and non-traditional security challenges.

In that context, countries are promoting cultural diplomacy as an effective tool for minimising differences, enhancing understanding, building trust, and promoting cooperation, he stressed.

The FM affirmed that with a new stature and strength, and in order to meet the requirements of the country in the new situation, more than ever, cultural diplomacy must truly be placed at the same level as political diplomacy and economic diplomacy, making contributions to the successful implementation of the foreign policy, serving the goal of rapid and sustainable socio-economic development, and enhancing national position and reputation at the same time.

The official pointed to five major objectives of cultural diplomacy, which are promoting trust building, enhancing national image and soft power; proactively and extensively integrating in cultural fields at regional and international organisations and forums; popularising and honouring the values of culture, the beauty of the nation, and the qualities of the Vietnamese people; advocating for UNESCO titles, turning culture into a true "intrinsic strength", contributing to the country's sustainable development; and absorbing the quintessence of the culture of mankind, contributing to building the national value system, cultural value system, family value system, and Vietnamese people’s standards.

He asked participants to focus on seeking measures to link cultural diplomacy more strongly with political diplomacy, economic diplomacy, and overseas Vietnamese affairs, and promote cultural values and the image and people of Vietnam in an innovative and creataive fashion, aiming for breakthroughs and changes in mindset for cultural diplomacy work.

At the conference, diplomats and officials pooled their proposals on the methods to implement the general and long-term cultural diplomacy strategy, including designing mechanisms to attract resources and training personnel for the work.

They pointed to the need to continuously renovate cultural diplomatic activities in a creative and flexible manner, and strengthen science-technology application in the work.

Concluding the event, FM Son sketched out nine major tasks in cultural diplomatic work in the coming time, including bolstering and deepening all-round ties between Vietnam and other countries, territories and international and regional organisations, stepping up the promotion of Vietnam's image, people and culture, and enhancing multilateral diplomacy.

The FM also asked for preparations for a national conference to review the three-year implementation of the national cultural diplomatic strategy by 2030./.