Opinions & Interviews

MINSK, 17 June (BelTA) – The Vietnam Days of Culture in Belarus, which started on 16 June, will be a step towards the development of large-scale cooperation between the two countries, Vietnam Deputy Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Huynh Vinh Ai said as he met with Belarus Culture Minister Boris Svetlov, BelTA has learned.

When welcoming the guests, Boris Svetlov said that Belarusian colleagues had very pleasant impressions of their trip to Vietnam in November last year. "It is with a special pleasure that we anticipate our acquaintance with the culture of Vietnam. The Vietnam Days of Culture will be just the first step towards the development of cooperation between the two countries. However, the program of cultural cooperation adopted by our departments last year is designed to establish specific links between the cultural institutions of the two countries. Step by step we will be moving forward," the minister said.

Vietnam Deputy Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Huynh Vinh Ai, for his part, expressed hope that the development of all-round relations between Vietnam and Belarus will be facilitated by the visa-free entry for Belarusians to Vietnam which comes into force on 1 July. The Days of Culture will feature a photo exhibition The Beauty of Vietnam, concerts by artists of Vietnamese Theater of Opera and Ballet and the State Academy of Music of Vietnam. "While it is impossible to present the country not only in five days but in a month, we want the Belarusians to see at least some piece of the beauty of our country and the uniqueness of the Vietnamese culture. I hope that this will promote the development of relations in other fields between Belarus and Vietnam,” he said. Mr Huynh Vinh Ai added that from books he knows that Belarus is a peaceful and beautiful country with kind people, and he is pleased to have the opportunity to get acquainted with the country and the people in person.

The Vietnamese delegation will visit the Khatyn memorial and the Belarusian State Museum of the Great Patriotic War. In addition, the Vietnamese Opera and Ballet Theater and the National Academic Bolshoi Opera and Ballet Theater of the Republic of Belarus will discuss the possibility of organizing exchange tours.

The exhibition The Beauty of Vietnam which will open at the National Art Museum of Belarus on 18 June will feature 50 photos. Visitors to the exhibition will get some idea about the attractions of Vietnam, the nature, the festivals and other events. The official opening of the Days of Culture and a gala concert in the Concert Hall of the Belarusian State Philharmonic Society will be held in the evening of the same day.

Residents of Molodechno will have an opportunity to get familiar with the musical culture of Vietnam by attending a concert of Vietnamese artists on 19 June. According to the Belarus Culture Minister, choosing Molodechno as another venue for Vietnam Days of Culture was based on the fact that the city is one of the contenders for the title Belarus’ Capital of Culture in 2016.