Cultural diplomacy contributes to implementing positive policies and proactive international integration

DUONG THI MAI HOA
Vinh University

1. The policy of the Communist Party of Vietnam regarding cultural diplomacy

Cultural diplomacy is a diplomatic activity associated with culture, whereby countries use culture as an object and means to establish, maintain, and develop foreign relations to achieve its basic goals and interests in the fields of security, development, and expansion of influence, while building the diplomatic identity of the country and people.

During the renovation period, the Party and State have identified cultural diplomacy as a special field in Vietnam’s comprehensive diplomatic strategy: “involving the use of culture as an object and means to achieve the basic goals of the country’s foreign policy; create a good image of the country, promote national culture and language abroad”⁽¹⁾.

The above policy represents an innovation in the foreign policy thinking of our Party and State when determining the importance of cultural content in diplomatic activities. International cultural cooperation is increasingly emphasized, “Expanding and enhancing the effectiveness of international cooperation on culture is a key task in Vietnam’s development strategy... International cultural cooperation and exchange help achieves goals set by cultural policy, which is to absorb the cultural quintessence of humanity; enrich and deepen the country’s traditional cultural values, contributing to building an advanced culture rich in national identity”⁽²⁾. Cultural cooperation is a foundation for expanding cooperation in other fields.

In fact, although culture is a field with its own specific characteristics, culture is always intertwined, penetrating, and present in most fields.

Despite strong economic development in the recent period of renovation, cultural development has not been as dynamic or proportional. Therefore, the 11th National Party Congress (2011) requested: “To develop culture and society in harmony with economic development, ensuring progress and social justice... Increase state investment, at the same time, increase the mobilization of social resources for cultural development”⁽³⁾. Our Party requires that in the process of cultural development, we must “both inherit and promote the good cultural traditions of the Vietnamese community and absorb the quintessence of human culture so that culture is truly the spiritual foundation of society”⁽⁴⁾.

The 11th National Party Congress advocates “proactive and active international integration” and for the first time used and placed the concept of “cultural diplomacy” on an equal footing with political diplomacy and economic diplomacy.

The Congress clearly stated: “Ensure the Party’s unified leadership and the State’s centralized management of foreign affairs activities. Closely coordinate the Party’s foreign affairs activities, State diplomacy, and people’s diplomacy; between political diplomacy and economic diplomacy and cultural diplomacy, between foreign affairs and national defense and security”⁽⁵⁾. This is a new content in the Party’s cultural development and foreign policy, is a turning point for cultural diplomacy activities in the current period of promoting industrialization, modernization, and international integration.

The Cultural Diplomacy Strategy until 2020 issued under Decision No. 208/2011/QD-TV, dated February 14, 2011, by the Prime Minister promoted cultural diplomacy activities to be deployed with increased professionalism, quality, efficiency, creating cohesion and promoting political diplomacy and economic diplomacy, contributing to the creation of national synergy. The signed international treaties and agreements on culture have created a legal basis and raised awareness of cultural diplomacy and the role of cultural diplomacy in the activities of foreign affairs.

The 13th National Party Congress advocates: “To build a comprehensive and modern diplomacy with three pillars: party diplomacy, state diplomacy and people’s diplomacy”⁽⁶⁾. The Party’s policy reflects the maturity of Vietnamese diplomacy and is also a requirement that is urgent, strategic, and long-term for foreign affairs in general and cultural diplomacy in particular.

Implementing the Congress’s Resolution, the Prime Minister issued Decision No. 2013/QD-TTg, dated November 30, 2021, “Approving the Cultural Diplomacy Strategy until 2030”, which outlines five specific tasks for the current phase of cultural diplomacy:

Firstly, promote and deepen relations and trust between Vietnam and other countries, regions, and international organizations.

Secondly, proactive, and extensive integration in cultural fields in regional and international organizations and forums

Thirdly, promote and spread the image of Vietnam’s country, people, and culture internationally

Fourthly, advocate, protect, and promote internationally recognized Vietnamese heritages

Fifthly, selectively absorb the quintessence of human culture to enrich national cultural identity⁽⁷⁾.

2. Results of cultural diplomacy in the renovation period

In recent times, cultural diplomacy has been vigorously implemented ,with many diverse activities, rich in form, focusing on quality, flexibility, and creativity in ideas and measures, based on adhering to the set goals and tasks, contributing to elevating and spreading Vietnamese cultural values to the international community. Cultural diplomacy is increasingly promoting its role as an important pillar of foreign policy and has made great contributions to the cause of national construction and development in the period of promoting innovation and international integration:

Firstly, cultural diplomacy contributes to sending national messages and branding, promoting Vietnam’s image to the world, and promoting international exchange and cooperation.

The successful organization of many cultural activities over recent times, with diverse forms such as: organizing periodic and annual festivals and major cultural events such as Hung Kings Commemoration Festival (Phu Tho ), Hue Festival, Coconut Festival (Ben Tre), Dalat Flower Festival, Buckwheat Flower Festival (Ha Giang), culinary festivals, bicycle races for peace... have shown their role as a means to disseminate cultural and human values, and promote the image of Vietnam as a peace-loving, friendly, open country, with a heroic, indomitable, and extremely humane history; A country rich in cultural and natural heritage with a distinctive culture.

Cultural diplomacy closely interwinds with economic diplomacy in many investment, trade, and tourism promotion activities, creating attraction and attracting foreign investment capital. Cultural diplomacy contributes to building a national brand, promoting the image of the country and the Vietnamese people to international friends, contributing to the process of promoting tourism, finding opportunities for cooperation, and expanding exports of Vietnamese goods to other countries, thereby improving the international integration capacity of localities and the whole country, eliminating hunger, and reducing poverty, and developing socio-economic development. Through exchanges and cultural contacts, localities can identify their strengths and shortcomings and determine their goals.

In the context of the country promoting deep and comprehensive integration with the world, through cultural diplomacy activities, international partners and friends are increasingly understanding the country, culture, people, guidelines, and policies of the Party and State of Vietnam. That has important significance in creating a foundation of awareness and affection of people from other countries towards Vietnam, thereby contributing to promoting the development of cooperative relations and enhancing national position and strengthening the comprehensive power of the country.

Secondly, cultural diplomacy contributes to enhancing Vietnam’s reputation in the international arena.

Cultural diplomacy activities are increasingly linked with political diplomacy, becoming a main activity in major foreign affairs plans and programs of all levels and sectors, contributing to promoting culture, enhancing understanding between Vietnam and countries around the world, building trust - a solid foundation for building long-term friendly relationships.

Within the framework of multilateral forums, cultural diplomacy has contributed to deepening our country’s integration, improving proactive capacity when participating in international forums, and actively contributing to goals like peace, security, and global development, thereby strengthening Vietnam’s position in the international arena.

Cultural diplomacy activities are implemented diversely in terms of audience, rich in content and form, and expanded in scope, including delegations of Party and State leaders going abroad and welcoming heads of state to Vietnam, and organizing international conferences and events hosted by Vietnam.

There’s active participation in the construction and operation of multilateral institutions and forums at regional, inter-regional, and international cultural forums and organizations of which Vietnam is a member. Therefore, Vietnam’s reputation in the international arena is increasingly enhanced, demonstrated by hosting many major cultural events, conferences, and seminars. At international events and forums, Vietnam’s substantive contributions, sharing experiences, ideas, initiatives, and building important conventions and documents... are highly valued.

Cultural diplomacy plays a major role in paving the way for Vietnam to transmit and spread traditional national values, affirming a consistent foreign policy of independence and self-reliance for peace, friendship, cooperation, development, multilateralization, diversification, and comprehensive international integration.

Thirdly, absorb humanistic values, and advanced scientific values while preventing bad and uncultural elements in the process of exchange and international integration, building an advanced Vietnamese culture that is rich in national identity.

In the process of cultural diplomacy activities, bilateral exchanges and reception always occur simultaneously. Countries exchange and interact culturally, thereby fostering each other’s culture. On the other hand, countries also have measures to preserve and promote the traditional cultural values of the nation and adjust the country’s own cultural values to fit the general flow of the times to integrate without assimilation.

Vietnam has a history of thousands of years of construction and development, has a long-standing culture and civilization, and has its own identity, becoming the country’s “soft power” in international integration. Through cultural diplomacy activities, Vietnam has selectively absorbed the values, cultural quintessence, and knowledge of other countries to contribute to enriching culture, thereby contributing to improving the spiritual life of the people.

Resolution No.33-NQ/TW dated June 9, 2014, by the 9th Plenum of the 11th Central Committee “On building and developing Vietnamese culture and people to meet the requirements of the sustainable development of the country” pointed out a key task is: “Proactively integrating into the international culture, absorbing the quintessence of human culture”. The resolution clearly states: “Proactively expand cultural cooperation with other countries, diversify forms of foreign culture, deepen international cultural relations, and achieve practical results; selectively receiving the quintessence of world culture, enriching national culture”⁽⁸⁾.

Our Party advocates proactive international cultural integration based on promoting the combined strength of the entire Party and the entire people. Both cooperate and fight to absorb the cultural quintessence of humanity and prevent harmful cultural elements. In the context of international integration, and implementing the Party’s policies, cultural diplomacy has made a positive contribution to absorbing the cultural quintessence and knowledge of other countries, enriching national culture.

Fourthly, the role of cultural diplomacy in mobilizing the overseas Vietnamese community

Our Party and State always consider the overseas Vietnamese community as an inseparable part and a resource of the Vietnamese national community. The work of mobilizing overseas Vietnamese has always been considered as a mission of strategic significance in the diplomatic work of the Party and State to serve the cause of national liberation and in the work of building and protecting the Fatherland. The Party has issued many resolutions on this issue such as Resolution No.36-NQ/TW, dated March 26, 2004, by the IX Politburo “On work for overseas Vietnamese in the new situation”; Directive No.45-CT/TW, dated May 19, 2015, by the Politburo “On continuing to promote the implementation of Resolution No.36-NQ/TW by the IX Politburo” on work with Vietnamese people abroad in the new situation”; Conclusion No.12-KL/TW, dated August 12, 2021, by the Politburo “On the work of overseas Vietnamese in the new situation”.

In these important documents, our Party affirms: that overseas Vietnamese not only actively contribute to the development of the host country but are also an indispensable component in Vietnam’s process of building the country and international integration. Every overseas Vietnamese person is an ambassador bringing Vietnamese culture to the people of the countries and territories where they live, do business, work, and study.

Carrying out cultural diplomacy activities related to the overseas Vietnamese community is not only a way to maintain national identity but at the same time, through them, the image of the country and people of Vietnam will be widely enhanced and effectively promoted to the international community.

Rich cultural activities aimed at the Overseas Vietnamese community promote the connection of the Vietnamese community around the world towards the Fatherland, making practical contributions to the cause of building and protecting the Fatherland, making a profound impact in evoking national pride, emotional attachment to the homeland, promoting the spread of Vietnamese values to the world, and preserving and promoting cultural identity and traditions of the nation.

As a subject of cultural diplomacy, the Overseas Vietnamese community has had many activities such as: organizing community activities on culture, arts, painting, beliefs, sports, society, teaching and learning Vietnamese..., thereby giving people in the host country opportunities to have direct contact with Vietnamese culture, enjoy Vietnamese culture, and be able to absorb it, including learning Vietnamese or other forms of performing arts. Thereby, promoting Vietnamese culture, and understanding the guidelines and policies of the Party and the State of Vietnam in the fields of culture and foreign affairs.

Businesses of overseas Vietnamese participate in bringing Vietnamese goods, products, and services abroad, bringing international tourism to Vietnam, thereby contributing to effectively promoting Vietnamese culture, including tangible and intangible culture.

3. Some solutions to promote cultural diplomacy in the new situation

The Cultural Diplomacy Strategy to 2030 approved by the Prime Minister in Decision No. 2013/QD-TTg dated November 30, 2021, has set the goal of “using cultural tools in diplomacy to deepen Vietnam’s relationship with partners, , ensuring national interests, creating and maintaining a peaceful and stable environment, mobilizing external resources, turning favorable conditions and the country’s position into resources for socio-economic development, and using diplomatic measures to honor the values and beauty of Vietnamese culture, absorbing the quintessence of human culture, thereby arousing the aspiration to develop the country, enhancing soft power, and raising the country’s position”⁽⁹⁾.

The Cultural Diplomacy Strategy to 2030 once again emphasizes the role of cultural diplomacy in Vietnam’s comprehensive and modern diplomacy to serve the goals of peace, security, development, and the position and influence of Vietnam internationally. Vietnam’s influence in the international arena closely links culture with socio-economic development strategies, overall strategies on international integration, and foreign policy orientations of the Party and State until 2030. To achieve that goal, some solutions are needed:

Firstly, perfect the guidelines, mechanisms, and policies on cultural diplomacy to suit reality, perfect the theory of cultural diplomacy, including concepts, and connotations as well as clearly define the role, and the position of cultural diplomacy in the overall comprehensive and modern diplomacy of Vietnam.

For cultural diplomacy to promote its role as one of the three pillars of Vietnamese diplomacy, it is necessary to link cultural diplomacy more closely with political diplomacy and economic diplomacy; associated with the work of overseas Vietnamese to create comprehensive diplomatic strength for Vietnam. Complete the system of mechanisms and policies on cultural diplomacy comprehensively and synchronously following the Party’s foreign policy and the State’s laws.

Leaders at all levels, sectors, localities, and agencies from central to local levels need to raise awareness of the necessity and importance of cultural diplomacy to make cultural diplomacy a regular mission at all levels, sectors, and throughout the whole society.

Pay attention to promoting strategic research and forecasting development trends of culture and cultural diplomacy affecting Vietnam to promptly have policies related to cultural diplomacy consistent with the country’s practical development and international commitments.

Secondly, ensure resources for the development of cultural diplomacy

For cultural diplomacy activities to be of a high quality and truly effective, and to promote their role in the process of building and developing the country, it is necessary to build a team of qualified officials in the field of cultural diplomacy meeting the requirements of the new era. Therefore, it is necessary to regularly organize activities to foster knowledge about culture and cultural diplomacy for officials working in foreign affairs at home and abroad. Improve knowledge of cultural diplomacy for officials working in foreign affairs and culture in provinces and cities.

It is necessary to continue opening training courses on foreign affairs in general and cultural diplomacy in particular, including knowledge of organizing cultural events with foreign elements in localities.

Focus on improving the quality of teaching at universities and colleges with majors related to cultural diplomacy. Introduce cultural diplomacy content into appropriate curricula at several relevant specialized universities to improve students and young people’s knowledge of cultural diplomacy. Strengthen the organization of events to create opportunities for cultural exchange between Vietnamese students and young people from regional and international countries.

Thirdly, integrate cultural diplomacy activities with work in the overseas Vietnamese community

In line with the Party’s views and policies, all levels and sectors need to have specific policies related to the overseas Vietnamese community. With the role of both subject and beneficiary, the overseas Vietnamese community has an important position in receiving information and cultural products from the country to preserve and promote traditions, national culture in the family and within the activities of the Vietnamese community. At the same time, it promotes and introduces Vietnamese cultural identity to the people of the host country.

Actively implement the Project “Supporting the teaching and learning of Vietnamese for overseas Vietnamese” is crucial to preserve and develop the use of the Vietnamese language. Vietnamese representative agencies abroad need to promote their roles and responsibilities in researching and selecting valuable, useful, and appropriate lessons learned from other countries to advise on cultural diplomacy policies and the organization of Vietnamese cultural activities abroad. This contributes to deepening and sustaining Vietnam’s relations with other countries, enhancing friendship, understanding, and mutual trust between the people of other countries and Vietnam, while at the same time mobilizing and attracting foreign investment, international tourism, trade exchanges, and conditions for expanding cooperation in other fields.

Fourthly, preserve national cultural identity and absorb the quintessence of human culture

In the context of industrialization, modernization, and international integration, amidst the strong development of information and digital technologies, Vietnamese people and traditional cultural values are inevitably affected and transformed. Alongside positive factors promoting modern cultural development and creating tools and means to preserve, conserve, and promote national cultural values, many factors have a negative impact, causing traditional cultural values to become outdated lost, or distorted.

Preserving national cultural identity does not mean closing, isolating, or “locking up” the national culture from outside influence. Instead it requires proactive and positive cultural exchanges and cooperation to accept the advanced cultural values of humanity, making the national culture richer, more modern, more vibrant, and more resistant to countercultural elements.

Enhanced research and selective absorption of the world’s cultural essence, knowledge, good practices, and advanced sciences into Vietnam are necessary. This involves inheriting and promoting the national cultural identity, to completely improve and enrich Vietnam’s cultural and intellectual treasures, while at the same time bringing Vietnam’s cultural quintessence to the world, contributing to supplementing the cultural quintessence of humanity.

Educating patriotism, equipping people with national cultural knowledge so that every Vietnamese person, whether at home or abroad, feels proud of the country, of a thousand years of civilization while enhancing responsibility, activeness, and consciousness in preserving and protecting traditional cultural values, and the national cultural identity in the new context of the nation and the times.

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Received: September 12, 2023; Revised: September 15, 2023; Approved for publication: October 2, 2023.

Endnotes:

(1) Vu Duong Huan: Diplomacy and diplomatic affairs, National Political Publishing House, Hanoi, 2009, p.311.

(2) Ministry of Culture, Sports, and Tourism: Speech of Deputy Minister Ho Anh Tuan at the Opening Ceremony of the Workshop "Foreign Culture in an Integrated World", held on November 30, 2011, at the University Hanoi Cultural School.

(3), (4), (5) CPV: Documents of the 11th National Party Congress, National Political Publishing House, Hanoi, 2011, pp.40, 41, 139.

(6) CPV: Documents of the 13th National Party Congress, vol.I, National Political Publishing House, Hanoi, 2021, p.162.

(7), (9) Decision No.2013/QD-TTg, dated November 30, 2021, of the Prime Minister “Approving the Cultural Diplomacy Strategy until 2030”.

(8) CPV: Resolutions of the Party Central Committee 2011-2015, ibid, p.149.­