According to Xavier Troussrad, Head of the EC Unit for Cultural Policy and Intercultural Dialogue, Vietnam is one of the first countries in the region to ratify the 2005 UNESCO Convention on the Protection and Promotion of the Diversity of Cultural Expressions.

Vietnam has a rich and deeply rooted culture, which serves to illustrate the value of the convention, Troussrad said, adding that the country is also the only one in the region to have implemented an in-depth review of its cultural policy over the past year. It is also attempting to pursue this policy, following a sustainable roadmap in order to improve its implementation capacity.

As a result of these efforts, Vietnam is on track, especially in the context of a booming global trade in cultural products, which is threatening the existence and diversity of cultural expressions, he said.

According to the Deputy Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism, Tran Chien Thang, Vietnam’s cultural policy aims to preserve and promote the diversity of cultural expressions among its 54 ethnic groups nationwide.

He said that a series of policies regarding the preservation of cultural diversity have been implemented in Vietnam, including the development of its traditional handicrafts industries, and the creation and implementation of social and cultural infrastructure and supporting cultural activities.

To preserve and promote local cultural traditions, Vietnam has organised a series of cultural events in ethnic minority areas, giving ethnic groups the opportunity to display their own cultural identities, he added.

With the theme of “Preserving and Promoting the Diversity of Cultural Expressions: Sharing Asian and European Experiences”, the two-day seminar aims to call upon countries throughout the world to ratify the 2005 UNESCO Convention.

To date, almost 200 countries have signed this convention, but so far, only 90 of them have ratified it.