Decision No. 208/QD-TTg on approving the Cultural Diplomacy Strategy until 2020

Pursuant to …;

Regarding the approval of the cultural diplomacy strategy until 2020

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PRIME MINISTER

Based on the Law on the Organization of the Government dated December 25, 2001;

Considering the proposal of the Minister of Foreign Affairs,

Pursuant to …;

Article 1. Approves the "Cultural Diplomacy Strategy until 2020" attached to this Decision.

Article 2. This Decision takes effect from the date of issuance.

Article 3. Ministers, heads of ministerial-level agencies, heads of government agencies, chairpersons of provincial people's committees under the central government are responsible for implementing this Decision.

STRATEGY

Cultural Diplomacy until 2020

(Issued pursuant to Decision No. 208/QĐ-TTg dated February 14, 2011 of the Prime Minister)

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PART I

With the current trend of globalization and deep international integration, cultural diplomacy is increasingly widely used with many diverse forms and plays an important role in each country's diplomacy due to the strong influence of culture which greatly contributes to building trust, helping deepen and strengthen political and economic relations between countries.

In the first decade of the 21st century, with the robust development of advanced Vietnamese culture rich in national identity and the country's deep international integration, we have been and continue to leverage the power of culture in foreign affairs to successfully implement the Party and State's foreign policy. Vietnam's cultural diplomacy is defined as the implementation of cultural activities led primarily by the State to achieve political, economic, and cultural goals consistent with the general requirements of foreign work. The essence of cultural diplomacy includes five main activities: opening up and establishing relationships with countries and regions that have not had much interaction with us; promoting, strengthening, and deepening understanding with other nations; promoting the image of the country and the Vietnamese people on the international stage; advocating for more Vietnamese heritages to be recognized by UNESCO; and absorbing the finest elements of world culture to enrich our national cultural identity.

Over the past five years, cultural diplomatic work has received increasing attention in line with the spirit of actively integrating internationally and expanding relations across various fields of foreign affairs as directed by the Party and State. In the context from now until 2020, this work needs to be organized and implemented systematically with clearer focal points to contribute more effectively to a comprehensive diplomatic strategy, thereby contributing to transforming Vietnam into a modern industrialized nation by 2020.

Building the Cultural Diplomacy Strategy until 2020 aims to clearly define objectives, tasks, and key solutions to develop cultural diplomacy into a crucial pillar of Vietnam's comprehensive and modern diplomacy, contributing to maintaining a peaceful environment and creating favorable international conditions for the renewal process, accelerating socio-economic development, industrialization, and modernization of the country.

I. CURRENT SITUATION OF CULTURAL DIPLOMACY IN THE RECENT PERIOD

1. On awareness:

The overall awareness of senior leaders, leaders at all levels, sectors, both domestically and internationally regarding the necessity and importance of cultural diplomatic work has been strengthened. Cultural diplomacy has initially been given attention and actively participated in by agencies, ministries, localities, businesses, and social strata.

Awareness of the role and responsibility of social organizations and businesses in implementing cultural diplomacy has also been initially emphasized. Activities such as promoting images, cultural exchanges, artistic performances both domestically and abroad, conferences, and seminars have received positive responses from many social strata and businesses, thereby further promoting the socialization of cultural diplomatic activities.

2. Coordination among relevant agencies related to cultural diplomatic activities:

Coordination among ministries, sectors, and localities in implementing cultural diplomatic activities has become more effective. Some relevant ministries and agencies such as the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, the Ministry of Planning and Investment, the Ministry of Science and Technology, the Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry... have signed cooperation agreements, thereby clearly defining the leading agencies and coordinating agencies in implementing this work both domestically and internationally. Localities throughout the country have also actively played their roles in promoting their images through organizing cultural festivals and events in their areas and actively preparing files for the recognition of international cultural titles.

3. Some specific results of implementing cultural diplomatic activities:

Initial efforts have been made to integrate cultural diplomacy with political diplomacy, utilizing high-level visits to enhance mutual understanding between Vietnam and its international friends, such as organizing artistic performance programs, Hue Court Music performances, Vietnamese Cultural Days abroad, musical instrument and photo exhibitions introducing Vietnam's landscapes and people, while also promoting Vietnam's economic potential, tourism, and safety for investors and trade.

Cultural diplomatic activities have positively contributed to advocating for global cultural titles such as the Thang Long Imperial Citadel as a World Cultural Heritage Site, Ca Tru and Quan Ho as Intangible Cultural Heritages; supporting localities in organizing cultural programs such as cultural and tourism festivals, culinary events, international fireworks competitions...

Through cultural diplomatic activities, selected values, cultural excellence, and knowledge from around the world have been absorbed to enrich Vietnam's cultural landscape and improve the quality of people's spiritual life, while conveying many large ideas and programs of the United Nations and UNESCO into national action programs such as building "learning societies," "information societies," and "education for all"...

4. Limitations:

Although cultural diplomatic activities in recent years have become more diverse compared to before, their effectiveness has not been high, failing to meet the requirements of the new situation; the content and forms of these activities have not corresponded with the specific requirements of each type of target and region. The number of cultural products exported remains low, and their quality is limited. Material means and technology serving cultural diplomatic work are still insufficient and outdated.

Coordination among sectors and agencies participating in cultural diplomatic activities has not been truly tight.

The level of cadres working in cultural diplomatic activities still has many limitations, and the number of cadres active in this field is also not sufficient. There is no high consensus among social strata regarding the role, position, and importance of cultural diplomacy, which requires close cooperation between the state sector and the private sector, especially the participation of the broad masses of the people.

5. Causes of the limitations:

Cultural diplomacy is a new field and concept, its connotations are still in the process of being defined, the understanding of the importance of cultural diplomacy is not high, there is no general guiding document from the Party and State as a basis for unifying the understanding of tasks, coordination mechanisms, and implementation of activities among Ministries and sectors, and between central and local levels.

There is no unified mechanism for directing and managing cultural diplomatic activities from the central level to Ministries, sectors, and domestic and foreign localities, leading to spontaneous, scattered, and overlapping situations.

Resources for cultural diplomatic activities are still limited.

II. INTERNATIONAL AND DOMESTIC CONTEXT FROM NOW TO 2020

1. International context:

Peace, cooperation, and development will continue to be the main trend in international relations in the coming period. Among them, globalization, information technology, and exchanges across various fields will continue to develop strongly. In this context, on one hand, countries actively participate in cultural exchanges to develop, affirm their identity, and enhance their influence on the international stage. On the other hand, countries recognize that globalization may highlight cultural differences, one of the reasons that can lead to ethnic and religious conflicts. Therefore, cultural diplomacy will increasingly play a more important role in promoting cooperation and defusing potential conflicts in international relations.

In Southeast Asia, the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) is strongly promoting cultural cooperation with the establishment of the ASEAN Community in 2015, where the Community of Culture-Society is one of the three main pillars. The idea of building an East Asia community is also taking shape, with the promotion of cultural exchange activities being an important binding force.

2. Domestic situation:

After 25 years of renovation, Vietnam has achieved many remarkable achievements in many aspects and has integrated relatively deeply into international life. We have normalized and gradually built and upgraded a stable and long-term framework for relations with major countries, global and regional economic-political centers. With the spirit of proactive integration, we have utilized many external resources, combined with internal potential to serve the country's economic development, industrialization, and modernization.

The task of foreign affairs in the coming period is to maintain a peaceful environment, create favorable international conditions for the renovation process, accelerate economic and social development, industrialization, and modernization of the country, build and defend the homeland, and contribute positively to the common struggle of the world's people for peace, national independence, democracy, and social progress; deepen, stabilize, and sustain established international relations, particularly in the fields of economic development, science and technology, education and training, culture, society, and sports. The strength of the country both allows and demands the further enhancement of the effectiveness of cultural diplomatic work to fulfill this task.

III. OBJECTIVES AND DEVELOPMENT VIEWPOINTS OF CULTURAL DIPLOMACY UNTIL 2020

1. Objectives:

Strengthening cultural diplomatic activities to increase the world's understanding of Vietnam's country, people, and culture, enhancing trust with countries around the world, deepening, stabilizing, and sustaining Vietnam's relations with partners, thereby enhancing the country's position on the international stage and creating conditions to support economic and social development. Cultural diplomatic activities also contribute to absorbing the finest cultural elements of humanity, enriching and deepening traditional cultural values of the country.

2. Viewpoints:

Cultural diplomacy, along with economic diplomacy and political diplomacy, is the three pillars of comprehensive and modern Vietnamese diplomacy. These three pillars are interconnected and influence each other, contributing to implementing the foreign policy line of the Party and State. Political diplomacy plays a guiding role, economic diplomacy provides material foundations, and cultural diplomacy provides spiritual foundations for foreign activities.

Cultural diplomacy is not a separate field but a common activity and task of Party organizations, state agencies, enterprises, localities, all Vietnamese people, and overseas compatriots under the unified management of the State.

Cultural diplomacy activities are based on the viewpoints clearly stated in the Program for Building the Country during the Period of Transition to Socialism of the Communist Party of Vietnam (amended and supplemented in 2011): "Building a modern culture that is rich in national identity, developing comprehensively and consistently in diversity, deeply imbued with humanistic, democratic, and progressive spirit; making culture closely integrated and deeply permeate all aspects of social life, becoming an important internal strength for development. Inheriting and promoting fine cultural traditions of the Vietnamese ethnic community, absorbing the finest elements of world culture, building a democratic and civilized society for genuine human interests and dignity, with increasingly high levels of knowledge, morality, physical fitness, and aesthetics."

The development of the country's cultural foundation is the basis for Vietnam's cultural promotion activities towards the world in general and for cultural diplomacy activities in particular. The implementation of cultural diplomacy from 2010 to 2020 needs to have a focus, key points, appropriate targets, and be suitable to the economic conditions and capabilities of the country.

IV. MEASURES FOR IMPLEMENTATION

1. Policy measures:

a) Strengthening theoretical understanding and awareness of cultural diplomacy:

Improving the theoretical system of cultural diplomacy, including concepts, contents, as well as clearly defining the role and position of cultural diplomacy within the overall comprehensive and modern foreign policy of Vietnam; linking cultural diplomacy with political diplomacy, economic diplomacy, and work related to overseas Vietnamese to create a combined diplomatic strength.

Promoting strategic research and forecasting trends in cultural development and cultural diplomacy in the region and globally affecting Vietnam through seminars, conferences, roundtables, and exchanges at national, regional, and international levels. From this, proposing policies related to cultural diplomacy to the Party and State.

Creating common understanding and consensus among leaders at all levels, sectors, and localities about the necessity and importance of cultural diplomacy work; aiming to make this work a regular task for all agencies from central to local levels and throughout society.

b) Continuing to build and improve mechanisms and policies for cultural diplomacy:

Improving the system of mechanisms and policies for cultural diplomacy comprehensively and synchronously based on compliance with state laws and the foreign policy guidelines of the Party; adjusting and supplementing cultural diplomacy policies to be consistent with the practical development of the country and international commitments.

Linking cultural diplomacy work with the five-year socio-economic development plans of all levels, sectors, and localities; integrating cultural diplomacy activities into the implementation of the Cultural Development Strategy and the Tourism Development Strategy of Vietnam until 2020, thereby creating synergy in the socio-economic development goals of localities.

Establishing a coordination mechanism between ministries, sectors, and localities to implement cultural diplomacy activities to clearly define the functions and responsibilities of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, the Ministry of Information and Communications, and other relevant ministries and localities in organizing cultural programs and activities involving foreign elements both domestically and abroad, specifically:

- The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has the responsibility to understand, study, and propose the organization of effective and practical cultural activities of Vietnam abroad, focusing on priorities and suitability to the target areas, absorbing the best elements of the host countries into Vietnam.

- The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism leads and coordinates with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to implement cultural activities involving foreign elements, programs welcoming foreign cultural and artistic delegations to Vietnam, and introducing Vietnamese heritage, scenic spots, and traditional culture to international friends.

- The Ministry of Information and Communications collaborates with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to establish policies for providing information to foreign media, overseas Vietnamese communities, and the international community.

- Friendship associations and political-social organizations integrate cultural diplomacy activities into their people-to-people diplomacy activities.

2. Specific measures:

a) Strengthening training and capacity building for cultural diplomacy work:

Building a professional cadre in the field of cultural diplomacy to meet the requirements of the new period. Promoting activities to enhance knowledge about culture and cultural diplomacy for foreign affairs officials and cultural workers at Vietnamese representative offices and cultural centers/houses abroad.

Enhancing knowledge about cultural diplomacy for foreign affairs and cultural officials at provincial and municipal levels; continuing to organize training courses on general foreign affairs and cultural diplomacy, and knowledge about organizing cultural events involving foreign elements at local levels.

Incorporating content on cultural diplomacy into teaching appropriately at specialized universities such as the Diplomatic Academy, University of Culture, Academy of Journalism and Communication, and related schools to enhance students' and young people's knowledge of cultural diplomacy work.

Strengthening cultural exchange activities between Vietnamese students, youth, and their counterparts in the region and internationally.

b) Ensuring resources for cultural diplomacy:

Ensuring financial and material conditions so that cultural diplomacy work can operate effectively through budget allocations from the state.

Establishing a Cultural Diplomacy Fund managed by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs according to state regulations and in balance with existing funds of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Developing programs to use the Fund to provide opportunities for Vietnamese artists, scholars, cultural figures, journalists, etc., to participate in international competitions in fields such as fine arts, painting, music, film, fashion, etc. Hosting these competitions in Vietnam.

Localities shall proactively develop plans to allocate part of their local budget for regular and emergency diplomatic cultural activities at the locality level, integrating with national festival organizing activities at the locality and preparing files for international titles.

Promote socialization, attract businesses and private individuals to sponsor and contribute to diplomatic cultural activities in accordance with legal provisions.

c) Link diplomatic cultural activities with community work for overseas Vietnamese:

Implement Resolution No. 36-NQ/TW dated March 26, 2004 of the Politburo on Overseas Vietnamese Community Work to support overseas Vietnamese communities in maintaining and promoting the national cultural identity in host countries; pay attention and create conditions for overseas Vietnamese communities, both as subjects and beneficiaries, to receive healthy information and cultural products from within the country to preserve and promote Vietnamese cultural traditions within families and among Vietnamese communities, and introduce and promote the national cultural identity of Vietnam to the people of host countries.

Emphasize the promotion of the Vietnamese language abroad; actively implement the Project "Supporting the Teaching and Learning of Vietnamese for Overseas Vietnamese" to maintain and develop the use of Vietnamese in overseas Vietnamese communities, piloted in Laos, Cambodia, Russia, Czech Republic, United States, and Canada.

d) Integrate diplomatic cultural activities with political and economic diplomacy:

Annually, based on actual needs, organize programs such as Vietnam Days abroad, cultural events during significant occasions like even-numbered anniversaries of establishing diplomatic relations between Vietnam and other countries, National Day, or during high-level visits to and from Vietnam, contributing to deepening and stabilizing Vietnam's relations with these countries, enhancing mutual friendship, understanding, and trust between the people of these countries and Vietnam, while promoting foreign investment attraction, international tourism, trade exchanges, and expanding cooperation in various fields.

Enhance the promotion of Vietnam's image:

Implement specific plans and activities to promote the image of the country, people, and culture of Vietnam with messages about a nation rich in distinctive culture and heroic history, a land full of vitality and potential, achieving many reform successes, industrious, creative, friendly, and peace-loving people. At the same time, strengthen the introduction of Vietnamese people through images of national heroes, cultural celebrities, and outstanding features of Vietnamese people. Integrate diplomatic cultural activities and external information dissemination activities in this work.

Leverage the distinctiveness of the Vietnamese national cultural identity in industries and professions to promote the socio-economic development of localities and the country as a whole. Focus on implementing diplomatic cultural activities in areas where Vietnam has strengths such as eco-tourism, festival tourism, traditional craft village tourism, and organizing international exhibitions, marketing handicrafts and local specialties, introducing Vietnamese literature and arts to international friends. Build a national image consistent with Vietnamese culture to promote Vietnam's image internationally. Strengthen diplomatic cultural activities in key areas, particularly major countries, neighboring countries, and ASEAN countries to secure favorable cooperation conditions in economic, political, and social fields. Enhance cooperation in the field of diplomatic culture at bilateral and multilateral forums such as UNESCO, ASEAN, ASEM, EAS, Francophonie, and the United Nations to promote Vietnam's image to other countries, making these relationships deeper, stable, and sustainable.

Pay attention to publishing and disseminating abroad artistic works of value and quality, publications of renowned writers, poets, and researchers, introducing customs, festivals, costumes of Vietnamese ethnic groups, scenic spots, traditional craft villages, works in film, music, painting, fine arts, photography, architecture.

Utilize modern information and communication means and technologies, multimedia communication, establish separate websites for art associations... to introduce the country, culture, and people of Vietnam in multiple languages; build satellite television programs in several foreign languages, helping international friends have opportunities to get closer to and understand more about Vietnam.

Plan and create unique identities for national and international festivals organized regularly in major provinces and cities across the country, cultural competitions such as painting, film production, book writing, playing musical instruments... in line with the Party's policies, customs, traditions, and culture of Vietnam, and international practices.

Localities shall proactively coordinate with relevant ministries and sectors to organize cultural programs with foreign elements in their localities or abroad to introduce and promote the unique cultural features of their localities; at the same time, proactively expand exchanges and cooperation with cities and regions around the world.

Strengthen diplomatic cultural activities in people-to-people diplomacy.

Build a strong cultural business workforce; closely link some high-quality Vietnamese product brands with distinctive cultural elements of the country.

Promote the role of Vietnamese representative offices abroad in researching and selecting experiences and lessons from other countries to advise domestic agencies on cultural diplomacy policies and the organization of Vietnam's cultural activities abroad. Each year, these representative offices need to develop specific plans regarding content and budget estimates for implementing cultural diplomatic activities. Standardize ceremonial protocols at Vietnamese representative offices abroad, standardize attire and gifts for international relations purposes to promote and introduce distinctive features of Vietnamese culture.

Establish and manage the operation of Vietnamese cultural centers and houses abroad according to the project "Building Vietnamese Cultural Centers Abroad," which has been approved by the Government. Initially, it is necessary to review and draw lessons from the exploitation and management models of Vietnamese cultural houses in Laos and France, and gradually expand to key areas such as Cambodia, Japan, the Russian Federation, and the United States. Strive to establish and implement operations of a network of 5 to 10 Vietnamese cultural centers and houses in important foreign locations by 2020.

e) Diversify types of international title campaigns:

Improve and assess the impact of Vietnam's international cultural titles to support the introduction and promotion of scenic spots, historical sites, and cultural figures of the country; intensify efforts to diversify target groups and types of international cultural title campaigns.

Strengthen and enhance the role of the National Committee for UNESCO of Vietnam, the main agency advising the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Government on issues related to UNESCO relations, recommending and reviewing files submitted to UNESCO for recognition of international titles.

Localities should identify and develop plans to campaign for new international cultural recognitions from international organizations such as tangible and intangible cultural heritage, World Biosphere Reserves, Global Geoparks Network, Memory of the World Program documentary heritage, New Seven Wonders of Nature, City of Peace, Creative Cities...

Vigorously carry out conservation, preservation, and promotion of the values of recognized heritages, making substantial contributions to the economic and social development of localities with heritages.

g) Absorb the finest elements of human culture:

Enhance research work, selectively absorb the finest elements of world culture, knowledge, and advanced scientific experiences into Vietnam, inherit and promote national cultural identity, thereby enriching and diversifying the cultural and intellectual treasury of Vietnam, while promoting the finest elements of Vietnamese culture to the world, contributing to supplementing the finest elements of human culture.

Struggle against unhealthy cultural products from outside that infiltrate Vietnam. At the same time, promptly and effectively refute false and distorted statements by anti-state forces through propaganda that misrepresents Vietnam, its leaders, national figures, history, the country, and its people.

V. ASSIGNMENT OF IMPLEMENTATION

1. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs shall take the lead, coordinate with relevant ministries, sectors, and provincial People's Committees under the Central Government to organize and implement the Cultural Diplomacy Strategy until 2020; develop and implement annual cultural diplomacy plans consistent with the Cultural Diplomacy Strategy and socio-economic development plans; guide, inspect, supervise, compile implementation status, and report periodically.

2. The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism shall cooperate with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and other relevant ministries and sectors in organizing and implementing cultural diplomatic activities, the National Promotion Program in fields within their jurisdiction according to annual plans and the Cultural Diplomacy Strategy until 2020; Direct the activities of Vietnamese Cultural Centers and Houses abroad according to long-term and annual plans.

3. The Ministry of Education and Training shall take the lead, coordinate with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to develop and implement human resource training plans; incorporate cultural diplomacy content into teaching at educational institutions with relevant majors in Diplomacy and Culture.

4. The Ministry of Finance shall take the lead, coordinate with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, and other relevant ministries and sectors to establish management mechanisms for the Cultural Diplomacy Fund to ensure the budget for cultural diplomatic activities; develop policies to encourage various economic and social sectors to invest in cultural diplomatic activities.

5. The Ministry of Home Affairs shall take the lead, coordinate with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism to determine staffing levels, build systems and policies for personnel engaged in cultural diplomatic work both domestically and at Vietnamese representative offices abroad, and Vietnamese cultural centers and houses abroad.

6. The Ministry of Information and Communications shall take the lead, coordinate with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and other relevant ministries and sectors to develop planning for networks of Vietnamese news agencies and press outlets abroad; establish mechanisms and policies to develop and manage the publication and dissemination abroad of promotional publications about Vietnam, coordinate external information activities with cultural diplomacy.

7. Ministries, agencies equivalent to ministries, and government agencies shall implement the Cultural Diplomacy Strategy until 2020 within their respective jurisdictions; coordinate with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and other ministries and agencies to implement cultural diplomatic tasks nationwide and internationally, and submit annual activity reports to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for consolidation and submission to the Prime Minister.

8. The People's Committees of provinces and centrally governed cities shall be responsible for implementing cultural diplomatic activities within their jurisdictions according to their authority; developing and directing the implementation of annual Cultural Diplomacy plans consistent with the Cultural Diplomacy Strategy until 2020 and the socio-economic development plan of the locality during the same period, and submitting annual activity reports to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for consolidation and presentation to the Prime Minister.