“Turning heritage into assets, turning assets into products associated with sustainable socio-economic development and improving people's lives”

On July 6, Uong Bi City coordinated with the National Cultural Heritage Council and the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism of Quang Ninh to organize a scientific workshop with the theme "Identifying, preserving and promoting the heritage values of Uong Bi land, in the direction of sustainable development of Uong Bi City". Regarding this event, a reporter from the Provincial Media Center interviewed Mr. Pham Tuan Dat, Chairman of the People's Committee of Uong Bi City.

Mr. Pham Tuan Dat, Chairman of Uong Bi City People's Committee.

- What do you personally think about cultural heritage?

+ As we know, cultural heritage is the expression of a community's lifestyle, created by communities and passed down from generation to generation. Cultural heritage includes intangible elements such as customs, rituals, festivals, local knowledge, beliefs, value systems, arts, etc. and tangible elements such as communal houses, temples, shrines, and houses. Cultural heritage is often emphasized in terms of its value as a cultural asset, expressing identity and continuity.

For a long time, cultural heritage was considered a product of the past, reflecting and expressing traditional values, beliefs, knowledge... belonging to the past. Currently, cultural heritage is an invaluable asset, connecting the ethnic community, the core of national identity, the basis for creating new values and cultural exchange; playing a particularly important role as a resource for the socio -economic development of the community, nation, and people. At the same time, cultural heritage is the spiritual foundation, the endogenous factor that creates the character and mettle of the Vietnamese people, the driving force for innovation, integration, and socio-economic development of the country and locality.

In Yen Tu, a number of high-class tourism service categories have been formed and operate effectively. — In Yen Tu, a number of high-end tourism services have been established and are operating effectively. Photo courtesy of Contributor

- Yes, is this the reason for Uong Bi City to coordinate in organizing a scientific workshop with the theme "Identifying, preserving and promoting the heritage values of Uong Bi land, in the direction of sustainable development of Uong Bi City"?

+ For a long time, we have talked about economics in industry but not economics in heritage. If heritage and tourism are combined, they will become a key economic sector. Currently, in the cultural development strategy, there is a strategy for developing cultural industry, in the cultural industry, heritage industry is the key sector.

Uong Bi has a large cultural heritage, of which Yen Tu heritage is a mixed natural and cultural resource, which can become a world heritage in the future. This is the premise for Uong Bi to develop cultural industry and heritage industry. The workshop "Identifying, preserving and promoting the heritage value of Uong Bi land, in the direction of sustainable development of Uong Bi city" is an interdisciplinary workshop. Uong Bi city hopes that the workshop will bring comprehensive and profound awareness so that Uong Bi can have an orientation to develop cultural industry in the area; find models and solutions to turn heritage into assets, turn assets into products serving socio-economic development.

Uong Bi City is deeply aware of the role and importance of cultural heritage and people in the development process. In particular, Uong Bi is determined to effectively implement Resolution No. 17-NQ/TU, dated October 30, 2023 of the Provincial Party Committee on building and promoting cultural values and human strength of Quang Ninh to become an endogenous resource, a driving force for rapid and sustainable development; at the same time, strive to successfully implement the resolutions and working themes of the province and the city in 2024.

Yen Tu is associated with the monastic life of King Tran Nhan Tong. Photo courtesy of Contributor

With the scientific workshop on the theme "Identifying, preserving and promoting the heritage values of Uong Bi land, in the orientation of sustainable development of Uong Bi city", Uong Bi city hopes to clarify theoretical and practical issues on preserving and promoting the value of cultural heritage in Uong Bi city as the foundation, driving force and important resources placed in a closely linked relationship with the political tasks, socio-economic development of the locality, ensuring national defense and security, international cooperation and integration, in the orientation of sustainable development of Uong Bi city.

The workshop also aims to analyze, evaluate objectively, scientifically and affirm the importance, historical, cultural and architectural values of local cultural heritages, thereby supplementing, systematically and scientifically synthesizing related documents, clarifying the scientific basis for mobilizing resources to preserve, restore and promote the value of tangible and intangible cultural heritages in the locality. In addition, the workshop also has the purpose and meaning of propagating and raising awareness of cadres, party members, union members, association members, and people inside and outside the city about the value of heritages, thereby highlighting the role and responsibility of each organization and individual in the work of preserving, restoring and promoting the value of heritages in Uong Bi City.

Through the opinions of experts and researchers, Uong Bi City has obtained orientations and solutions in preserving and promoting the value of cultural heritages in the area to become a "red address" for educating patriotic traditions, a unique and attractive destination serving domestic and international tourists.

Art performance at Lac Thanh communal house festival, Uong Bi city in 2024.

- Immediately after this workshop, what actions will Uong Bi City take to realize the goal of preserving and promoting its heritage values in a sustainable manner, associated with socio-economic development in the area?

+ Uong Bi City will continue to pay attention to heritage management in the area, and clearly identify that the conservation and promotion of natural heritage values must be associated with the conservation and promotion of cultural and historical heritage values, sustainable tourism development and green economy, creating attractive tourism products with local characteristics through promoting the value of intangible cultural heritages; continue to research, plan, develop synchronous infrastructure and tourism services, raise public awareness in the conservation and promotion of local heritage values.

Especially in the coming time, when the Yen Tu relic and landscape complex becomes a World Heritage Site, Uong Bi needs to coordinate in developing a suitable, inter-regional management plan in the task of both preserving and promoting and strengthening international cooperation, promoting local tourism development.

In the long term, based on the opinions and suggestions of scientists, Uong Bi City urgently coordinates to develop a cultural preservation plan associated with sustainable socio-economic development.

- Thank you for this conversation!

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