Prime Minister: World Cultural Festival in Hanoi 'shares with people affected by natural disasters'

October 10, 2025 22:04

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh and Mrs. Ngo Phuong Ly, wife of General Secretary To Lam, attended the opening ceremony of the first World Cultural Festival in Hanoi - Photo: VGP/Nhat Bac

Also attending were Ms. Ngo Phuong Ly, wife of General Secretary To Lam; 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 around the world.

Taking place from October 10 to 12 with the spirit of "Connecting - Sharing - Spreading Love", the Festival gathered a large number of international friends, artists, social organizations, businesses and Vietnamese people to support the community heavily affected by natural disasters. The event also demonstrated the spirit of international solidarity in joining hands to respond to global challenges, especially climate change. The festival space was colorful with traditional dances, costume shows, international cuisine and Vietnamese art performances carrying the message "the world beats together with love".

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh visits the national cultural spaces of the countries participating in the Festival - Photo: VGP/Nhat Bac

The official opening ceremony was held at the heritage center with the art program "Colors of Vietnam - Rhythms of the World", introducing typical heritages of Vietnam such as Bac Ninh Quan Ho, Hue Royal Court Music, Central Highlands Gong, Southern Amateur Music, Hat Van, Thang Long Xam... Along with that, art troupes from many countries contributed to creating a colorful picture of world culture. The opening night ended with the performance "We Are The World" spreading the message of friendship, solidarity and peace.

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh and delegates performed a special ceremony (painting five-color ceramic paintings) to open the Festival; visited national cultural spaces of the countries.

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh delivers the opening speech at the first World Cultural Festival in Hanoi - Photo: VGP/Nhat Bac

Culture - endogenous strength, the strength of international solidarity

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 to 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 to peoples around the world to Vietnam and to Vietnam to peoples and countries around the world.

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.

Mrs. Ngo Phuong Ly, wife of General Secretary To Lam, performed a special ceremony (painting five-color ceramic paintings) to open the Festival - Photo: VGP/Nhat Bac

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.

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.

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, speaks - Photo: VGP/Nhat Bac

When cultures connect, humanity unites.

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.

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.

Art program at the Festival - Photo: VGP/Nhat Bac

“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 unity and resilience in the face of adversity—right here in Hanoi and around the world," emphasized the UNESCO Representative in Vietnam.

Source: https://baochinhphu.vn/thu-tuong-le-hoi-van-hoa-the-gioi-tai-ha-noi-se-chia-voi-dong-bao-bi-thien-tai-102251010220038978.htm