From integration to identity: The concept of "internationalization and cultural Vietnamization" needs to be clarified.

The workshop was organized in a combination of in-person and online formats with connecting points in provinces and cities across the country.

In his opening speech, Minister Nguyen Van Hung emphasized that, implementing the direction of the Politburo , the Party Committee of the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism is urgently completing the Project "Internationalization of Vietnamese culture and Vietnamization of international culture", expected to be submitted to the Politburo in July.

This workshop is an important forum to contribute ideas to perfect the content of the Project, and at the same time, it is a forum to clarify the theoretical and practical basis, thereby determining the direction of effective implementation in the new development stage.

The Minister affirmed that in the process of international integration, Vietnamese culture always shows its own identity while selectively absorbing the quintessence of humanity.

Cultural internationalization is not only the dissemination of traditional and contemporary Vietnamese cultural values ​​to the world , but also the process of enriching Vietnamese culture by absorbing the humanistic and progressive spirit from other cultures. This is a harmonious encounter between national identity and the universality of humanity.

However, the Minister also frankly stated the urgent need to clarify the connotation of the two concepts "internationalization of Vietnamese culture" and "Vietnamization of international culture". This is a necessary starting point to have the right orientation in policy building and strategy implementation.

The Minister suggested that scientists , experts, and managers focus on analyzing the components, implementation conditions, forms of expression, and appropriate approaches in the context of increasingly deep globalization.

In his speech, Mr. Vu Manh Hung, Deputy Director of the Social Department, Central Policy and Strategy Committee, said that it is necessary to have a full assessment of the impact of international culture on Vietnamese culture, as well as positive values ​​from outside that can supplement the country's culture.

He suggested that the Project needs to clearly quantify its goals, balance cultural and foreign affairs factors in implementation solutions, and avoid leaning too much to one side.

From a local perspective, Director of the Department of Culture and Sports of Ho Chi Minh City Tran The Thuan commented that in order to effectively integrate and spread Vietnamese cultural values, it is necessary to first have a clear and unified understanding of the concepts of "internationalization of Vietnamese culture" and "Vietnamization of international culture".

Accordingly, internationalization is an inevitable trend, a driving force for socio-economic development, while Vietnamization is a requirement to affirm identity, creating a "cultural identity" of Vietnam in the global flow. These two processes need to be seen as two inseparable aspects.

He also said that current institutions and policies are not strong enough to facilitate the development of culture and cultural diplomacy. Investment in human resources, socialization and improving the international integration capacity of cultural institutions should be given special priority.

Sharing from local practice, Director of the Department of Culture and Sports of Hai Phong City Tran Thi Hoang Mai stated that as a locality with early and extensive international cooperation (currently twinned with 26 countries, having exchanges with more than 130 countries), Hai Phong identifies culture as one of the pillars in the orientation of sustainable development, especially in cultural diplomacy.

The city aims to join UNESCO's global creative cities network, aiming to become a "city of music".

According to her, specifying concepts and having implementation instructions from the Central Government will be an important basis for localities to implement more effectively in practice.

From Thua Thien Hue, Permanent Vice Chairman of Hue City People's Committee Nguyen Thanh Binh expressed concern about the content of the two concepts in the Project.

Hue has long been known for its strength in cultural diplomacy associated with heritage, taking culture as the foundation for green and sustainable development. He suggested that the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism provide specific guidance on content, scope and implementation methods so that localities can apply them practically. In addition, it is necessary to pay attention to developing human resources to be able to implement cultural integration requirements.

Permanent Vice Chairman of Hue City People's Committee Nguyen Thanh Binh gave an online presentation.

The workshop continued to receive many contributions from scholars, experts and local representatives, aiming to complete the Project in both theory and practice. In particular, clearly defining the concept, correctly determining the role and relationship between culture and foreign affairs, between preserving identity and selectively absorbing the world's quintessence was emphasized as the foundation for Vietnamese culture to integrate confidently, proactively and effectively.

Source: https://nhandan.vn/tu-hoi-nhap-den-ban-sac-can-lam-ro-khai-niem-quoc-te-hoa-va-viet-nam-hoa-van-hoa-post881605.html