Regional meeting on culture and arts opens in Hue

Mr. Minh highlighted the point today in the central city of Hue at the sixth meeting of the ASEAN Ministers Responsible for Culture & Arts (AMCA).

Over the last 47 years, ASEAN has made long progresses in building the community which is based on three key pillars namely political and security cooperation, economic cooperation, and socio-cultural cooperation.

ASEAN member states have built a united organization which serves as a positive component in favor of peace, stability and development in the region and the world at large.

Regarding the pillar of socio-cultural cooperation, ASEAN ministers have pushed forth a series of policies to preserve and honor ASEAN cultural heritages and consolidate mutual understanding about the diversified and special culture of ASEAN, said the host leader.

He also highly spoke of ASEAN for expanding cooperation with external partners especially China, Japan and the Republic of Korea (RoK), serving to enhancing the friendship and mutual understanding among different peoples in Asia.

Deputy PM Minh proposed ASEAN ministers to talk specific measures to realize the ASEAN Declaration on Unity in Cultural Diversity: Towards Strengthening ASEAN Community (ASEAN
Declaration).

Especially, the AMCA should pass particular agreements and initiatives to accelerate the building of ASEAN character; develop the cultural industry and appropriately exploit cultural heritages in favor of economic growth and poverty reduction.

“ASEAN should proactively prepare for a cultural and arts development strategy after 2015,” said Mr. Minh.

He also hoped that regional cultural and arts colleges and schools should strengthen experience sharing on the field.

The ASEAN ministers will meet with ASEAN dialogue partners -- China, Japan and RoK -- at the AMCA 3 meeting, and at the respective AMCA 1 (AMCA China, AMCA Japan and AMCA RoK) meetings./.

By Kim Loan