President of the Vietnam Women's Union, Hà Thị Nga, talks with Virginia Foote, the president of the American Chamber of Commerce in Hà Nội at the VN – US forum promoting women’s participation in international integration, held on November 24 by the union. — Photo phunuvietnam.vn

HÀ NỘI — Traditional art forms along with other cultural values should be upheld, attracting overseas Vietnamese to come back to their home soil and bridge the cultural gap between Việt Nam and the US, a forum has heard.

The forum held on Tuesday by the Việt Nam Women’s Union aims to promote women’s participation in international integration and celebrate the 25th anniversary of the establishment of Việt Nam-US relations and the 90th anniversary of the establishment of the union.

Vietnamese and American women have contributed to the formation and development of relations between the two nations, said Hà Thị Nga, the president of Việt Nam Women’s Union. 

It is also expected to support women’s active and effective international integration in all fields including economics and culture.

“Currently, the world is facing major changes and challenges such as epidemics, water security, and climate change. Along with the efforts of the governments, people and women of the two countries need to increase the interaction, actively contributing to the comprehensive co-operation between the two countries, the security, peace and prosperity of each country as well as of the international community,” Nga said.

According to the chairwoman, the Vietnam Women’s Union has held many people-to-people exchange activities to create a substantial foundation and strengthen the partnership between Việt Nam and the US.

The union has connected many organisations and individual women and welcomed many American women’s delegations to visit and work in Việt Nam.

At the same time, delegations of Vietnamese women have been sent to the US to visit and learn from the experience of American women in various areas such as culture and art, female leadership, science, technology and gender violence prevention.

Associations affiliated to the union such as the Việt Nam Women's Museum, the Women Publishing House, or the Việt Nam Women Newspaper have worked with many American partners in culture, publishing, economics, information and education.

The forum included two-panel discussions - supporting women in international economic integration and promoting women’s role in people-to-people relations and cultural exchange between Việt Nam and the US.

Joining the discussions were representatives from major Vietnamese and US organisations like American Deputy Ambassador to Việt Nam, Christopher Klein, the vice president of Việt Nam-USA Society Bùi Thế Giang, chairwoman of Unilever Vietnam, Nguyễn Thị Bích Vân and Nguyễn Phương Hoà, general director of the International Cooperation Department, Ministry of Sports, Culture and Tourism.

The delegates from the two countries exchanged experiences and proposed solutions to support women to increase their participation in international integration and people-to-people exchanges.

In terms of international cultural integration, Hoà, the general director of the International Cooperation Department, Ministry of Sports, Culture and Tourism, suggested promoting the role of talented women in art fields such as director Ngô Thanh Vân, choreographer Trần Ly Ly or designer Minh Hạnh to influence and inspire young generations of Vietnamese women. — VNS