A national conference on strengthening cultural diplomacy to promote Vietnamese identity towards peace, integration and sustainable development opened in Hanoi Wednesday.

Khiem said that cultural diplomacy, through the spreading of Vietnam’s unique cultural values, helps to convey to the world an image of a peaceful, stable and friendly Vietnam.

He said that in 2008, known as the Year of Cultural Diplomacy, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has coordinated with relevant agencies and localities to implement a variety of cultural activities aimed at improving foreign relations which have yielded encouraging results.

According to Vibeke Jensen, the UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization’s (UNESCO) Chief Representative in Vietnam, cultural diplomacy is one of the major factors in the 21st century arena of foreign relations as it is able to address the era’s biggest challenges, including inequality, poverty and conflict, in a sustainable manner.

Besides promoting Vietnam’s cultural values to the world, UNESCO programs also focus on fostering issues related to cultural diversity and dialogues among cultures, Jensen said.

The conference, sponsored by UNESCO, will continue discussions today.

Source: VNA