Phnom Penh (VNA) – Cambodian press agencies have hailed the Vietnam Culture Week from May 20-25 as a success, highlighting its role in strengthening cultural bonds between the two neighbouring countries.
News outlets like FRESH News emphasised the annual cultural exchange event co-hosted by the Cambodian Ministry of Culture and Fine Arts and the Vietnamese Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism. It quoted Cambodian Minister of Culture and Fine Arts Phoeurng Sackona as saying that the event served as a bridge tightening the friendship between the two nations.
According to its reports, both countries' culture ministries and relevant agencies collaborate in sharing expertise in tangible and intangible cultural heritage preservation. They also support each other in registering cultural treasures with UNESCO and provide training courses for cultural professionals.
The national news agency AKP focused on the event's opening ceremony. It quoted Sackona, expressing gratitude to artists, leaders, and participants from both nations who contributed to the event's success. She also emphasised the importance of continued collaboration in diverse cultural fields.
ThmeyThmey, another Cambodian news outlet, highlighted Sackona's call for enhancing experience sharing in the cultural industry.
The Khmer Times reported on a meeting between the culture ministry's leaders during the week. Vietnamese Deputy Minister Ta Quang Dong urged both countries to strengthen cooperation in culture, arts and urban creative network development.
Dong proposed specific areas for collaboration, including sharing expertise in cultural heritage preservation, promoting cultural exchanges, particularly between border provinces; and strengthening cultural and art ties within UNESCO, the Mekong-Lancang cooperation framework, and other sub-regional initiatives, contributing to the prosperity of both nations and the wider region.
He further suggested establishing closer connections between training institutions in both countries to facilitate workforce training in the cultural sector and encourage student exchange programmes.
Sackona expressed her hope for Vietnam's continued support in securing UNESCO recognition for Cambodian historical sites related to the Pol Pot regime, including the Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum, the Choeung Ek Killing Fields, and Prison M-13./.
