HCM CITY — The Cửu Long (Mekong) Delta City of Cần Thơ has launched a plan to promote cultural diplomacy in 2019.

The plan aims to introduce the culture and people of Việt Nam and Cần Thơ to the world, and call for investment to boost the city’s economy.

In 2019, Cần Thơ will issue priority policies to attract startup organisations in the country and abroad, and overseas Vietnamese entrepreneurs to invest in economic, social and cultural projects.

It will focus on information exchange with diplomatic missions, UN agencies, international organisations, and non-governmental organisations (NGOs) to improve understanding of their co-operation programmes in different fields.

The city’s Union of Friendship Organisations will help the city boost cooperation with international charity organisations and NGOs, such as Save the Children International, The Dariu Foundation and Alliance Anti Trafic, in supporting disadvantaged people and fighting against transnational crimes.

The city’s Foreign Affairs Department will work with agencies to host more international cultural and arts exchange programmes, as well as maintain annual programmes such as Việt Nam-Japan cultural and trade exchanges, Việt Nam-India cultural exchanges, and Việt Nam and France cultural days.

The department will organise exhibitions and performances to honour southern performing arts including đờn ca tài tử, folk music, cải lương (reformed opera) and traditional performing arts from Southeast Asian countries.

The city’s Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism will also collaborate with agencies to issue tourism policies to turn Cần Thơ into a green tourism city and an environmentally friendly city.  

The department will improve knowledge of history, culture and customs of the city and Mekong Delta region to local tour guides and open more tours linking the city and regional provinces.

The departments of Education and Training, and Science and Technology are continuing their co-operation with universities and high-tech scientific research centres in developed countries, especially South Korea.

The co-operation focuses on cultural exchanges and charity programmes, which include education and gifts to orphans, and building houses for the poor. — VNS