The Commission’s plan will get a lending hand from the Department of Culture, External Relations and UNESCO of the Foreign Ministry.

UNESCO Vietnam’s General Secretary Pham Cao Phong said the year 2013 will be a milestone year to promote Vietnam ’s images to the world through a series of Vietnamese week events.

“We will partner with Vietnamese relevant agencies in Italy, Canada and Japan to launch Vietnamese weeks there,” added Phong, who is also Head of the Department of Culture, External Relations and UNESCO.

He underlined the important role played by cultural diplomacy in furthering the country’s relationship with other countries.

Phong also talked about a plan to celebrate the 10th anniversary of the 2003 Convention for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage to be held in the northern province of Quang Ninh as an important event of cultural diplomacy this year.

He stressed the need to pay more attention to raising public awareness of cultural diplomacy as a foundation for development.

Reviewing the sector’s achievements in 2012, Phong mentioned a broad range of activities, such as the inauguration of statues of President Ho Chi Minh in Argentina, Laos and Thailand, and the organisation of friendship year marking Vietnam’s relations with Laos, Cambodia and the Republic of Korea.

Last year, Vietnam gained UNESCO’s recognition for its two more heritages, including Buddhist Sutras-printed woodblocks kept in Vinh Nghiem Pagoda in the northern province of Bac Giang and the worship rituals dedicated to Hung Kings in the central midland province of Phu Tho.

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