Phnom Penh (VNA) – A delegation of the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism (MCST) led by Deputy Minister Ta Quang Dong is paying a working visit to Cambodia to enhance the two countries’ cultural and arts cooperation.

The trip forms part of the Vietnamese Culture Week in Cambodia 2024 from May 20 to 25, an annual cultural exchange held rotationally by the MSCT and the Cambodian Ministry of Culture and Fine Arts.

On May 21, the Vietnamese Deputy Minister had a meeting with Cambodian Minister Phoeurng Sackona to discuss programmes and measures for fostering bilateral cultural and arts ties in the time ahead.

Appreciating Cambodia’s coordination in holding the Vietnamese Culture Week, Dong suggested the countries boost cooperation in culture, arts, and developing the creative cities network.

He called on the two sides to increase sharing experience in relic restoration and cultural heritage preservation; step up cultural exchanges, especially between their border provinces; and reinforce cultural and arts collaboration within the frameworks of UNESCO, ASEAN as well as the Mekong - Lancang and sub-regional cooperation, thereby contributing to prosperity of both countries and the region at large.

The official also asked Vietnam and Cambodia to promote cooperation in training cultural and arts manpower by strongly connecting training establishments, holding exchanges, and sharing knowledge and experience for each other’s students.

On this occasion, he invited Cambodian artists to attend an international dance festival in Hue city and an international puppetry festival in Hanoi this year.

Welcoming the MCST delegation, Phoeurng Sackona noted cultural and arts exchanges between Vietnam and Cambodia have been growing well both bilaterally and multilaterally.

The MCST recently assisted Cambodia to propose UNESCO recognise the country’s cultural heritage, she said, adding that she hopes Vietnam will continue supporting Cambodia’s dossiers seeking the world heritage status for the relics dating back to the genocidal regime such as the The Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum, the Killing Fields of Choeung Ek, and Prison M-13.

Minister Sackona emphasised that cultural and arts cooperation has become a bridge helping to intensify the countries’ diplomatic relations and their peoples’ friendship. The enhancement of cultural exchanges will help boost similarities and mutual understanding between the two peoples.

▨ On May 21 evening, the Vietnamese Culture Week in Cambodian officially kicked off at the Chaktomuk Conference Hall in Phnom Penh. Apart from the capital city, performances will also be held in the northwestern province of Banteay Meanchey on May 24./.