Art and Culture
PHL, Vietnam aim to boost cultural ties
MANILA—As the Philippines and Vietnam celebrate 40 years of bilateral relations, both countries vowed to join hands in further improving people-to-people contacts and cultural ties as a way forward.
The National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA) of the Philippines and the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism (MOCST) of Vietnam expressed their commitment in this endeavor during the gala night of the “Vietnam Cultural Days in the Philippines” at the Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP) Little Theater on Wednesday.
In his message, NCCA President Felipe De Leon stressed the need for the Philippines to continue forging and strengthening partnerships with its fellow ASEAN countries as the region gradually grows into a cultural hub with the realization of an ASEAN Socio-Cultural Community.
“We share with our Vietnamese counterparts our fervent desire to intensify international cooperation in the field of culture by empowering our cultural workers through exchanges,” said De Leon.
“We hope to promote cultural collaboration between the Philippines and Vietnam in the coming years thereby mutually enriching one another,” he added.
For his part, MOCST Deputy Minister Vuong Duy Bien said the past 40 years of multi-faceted relations between Vietnam and the Philippines have reached “tremendous achievements” in terms of bilateral cooperation, as well as dynamic improvement in the field of culture and the arts.
“Vietnam Culture Days in the Philippines this year is even more meaningful when 2016 is the first year that Vietnam and the Philippines jointly implemented many ASEAN projects including projects relating to culture and arts,” said Bien.
“I deeply believe that through the Vietnam Culture Days in the Philippines, the emotional ties between the two countries, the cooperation, arts and cultural exchanges between Vietnam and the Philippines will continue to be strengthened, contributing to the promotion and further development of the strategic partnership between Vietnam and the Philippines, while creating many positive contributions to build a stronger ASEAN community,” he added.
Meanwhile, Vietnamese Ambassador to the Philippines Truong Trieu Duong said that the bilateral relations of the two countries over the past four decades are “marked by mutual trust and confidence”.
“Over the past four decades of the two countries, Vietnam and the Philippines have enjoyed very, very cordial ties. Together, we have made great strides in cooperative endeavor in numerous efforts,” said the ambassador.
”It is a great pleasure and honor for me to extend my warmest congratulations to our 40th anniversary of the establishment of our diplomatic relations, to the development of our fruitful and ever-growing friendship, (and) to the good health, prosperity and happiness of our two peoples,” he added.
On July 12, 1976, Vietnam and the Philippines officially established diplomatic relations. The year of 2016 witnesses an important milestone as the two countries celebrate the 40th anniversary of their diplomatic relations.
Over the past four decades, both countries have significantly developed their ever-growing cooperation in numerous fields such as politics, security and national defense, trade, investment, tourism, agriculture, education, and people exchanges.
