Tokyo: Strong cultural industries will help promote Vietnam’s stature in the region, said Prof. Furuta Motoo, Rector of the Vietnam Japan University under the Vietnam National University, Hanoi.
In an interview granted to the Vietnam News Agency, Furuta said that he was highly impressed with the Vietnamese culture and people right on the first time he set foot in Hanoi in December 1974.
The culture of Vietnam is characterised by factors seeming to be contrary to each other but co-existing. The Vietnamese people’s patriotism, demonstrated by their continuous struggles against foreign invaders, is a typical feature recognised by people around the world. They are also open to good factors of other countries’ cultures, which can be seen in the Southeast Asian nation boosting its integration into the world while bringing into play its national identity, he said.
At the national conference on culture held in 2021 to implement the resolution of the 13th National Party Congress, Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu
Trong noted culture forms the spiritual foundation of society and the internal strength of the country, and that focus must be paid to building and developing culture, which means developing people with dignity and a good lifestyle and building a healthy cultural environment.
With regard to Vietnam’s goal of becoming a developed country by 2045 with importance attached to culture, Furuta perceived that if one country possesses a rich culture but its economy is underdeveloped, it will be hard for that country to maintain its culture. Meanwhile, if people in a developed and economically rich country are not spiritually satisfied, that society will also become unstable.
Given this, the viewpoint identified by General Secretary Trong is suitable for the current development period of Vietnam, the professor noted.
A new task set at the 13th National Party Congress is to develop cultural industries and perfect the cultural market, in which culture is developed comprehensively and harmoniously in relation to econo
mic growth and social progress.
About the new task’s impact on the Vietnam – Japan relations, especially in cultural cooperation, he considered the building of an equal partnership in the future relationship between the two countries as critically important.
Furuta held that ‘soft power’ will play an active role in the formation of equal partnerships among countries in East Asia, including Vietnam and Japan.
He expressed his hope that Vietnam will develop strong cultural industries to help promote its stature in the region and shape an equal partnership with Japan./.
Source: Vietnam News Agency
Hanoi: Chairman of the Vietnam Football Federation (VFF) Tran Quoc Tuan held a meeting in Hanoi on January 3 to encourage the Vietnamese national team ahead of the 2023 Asian Cup finals.
Tuan expressed his well wishes to head coach Philippe Troussier, the coaching staff and all the players, hoping for their good health and successful achievement of their goals.
He also commended the team’s dedicated training spirit during this time. Despite facing difficulties in terms of player force, every individual and position within the team has given their best efforts to ensure optimal preparation for the upcoming continental event.
The chairman emphasised that this marks the third time the Vietnamese team will participate in the Asian Cup finals, which is a testament to the team’s continuous effort and the growing prominence of Vietnamese football on the international stage.
Considering the formidable opponents awaiting Vietnam, Tuan urged the entire team to harness the power of solidarity and give their utmost f
or Vietnamese football. He called for them to exhibit the highest level of spirit and determination that Vietnam is known for when competing in the tournament.
Tuan assured that the VFF has closely followed and overseen the team’s preparations through the VFF’s Standing Executive Committee, ensuring the most favourable conditions for the team to focus, practice and compete.
The VFF’s General Secretary Duong Nghiep Khoi will assume the role of team leader during the 2023 Asian Cup finals.
On behalf of the coaching staff and the team, coach Troussier expressed gratitude to the VFF for their support and attention to the team.
The French coach voiced his confidence in the players and their preparation. Despite the significant challenges ahead, the team will strive to overcome them through collective solidarity, individual efforts, and confidence in their shared objectives.
The team are scheduled to depart for Qatar on January 5 for further training and will engage in a friendly match against Kyrgyzstan on Ja
nuary 9.
The 2023 Asian Cup finals will take place in Qatar from January 12 to February 10, featuring 24 teams divided into six groups. The top two teams from each group, along with the four best third-place teams, will advance to the round of 16.
Vietnam have been placed in Group D and will face Japan on January 14, Indonesia on January 19, and Iraq five days later./.
Source: Vietnam News Agency