At the meeting, MOCST’s Deputy Minister Ta Quang Dong affirmed, the close and friendly relationship between the two sides has continuously developed and achieved many good results in many fields over the past time. In particular, promoting exchange and cooperation activities in culture, sports and tourism aims to further enhance understanding and solidarity between the people of the two countries, consolidating comprehensive and substantive bilateral cooperation.

MOCST’s Deputy Minister Ta Quang Dong and Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of the Philippines to Vietnam Meynardo Los Banos Montealegre at the meeting (Photo: toquoc.vn)

Regarding the cooperation in the fields of culture, sports and tourism between Vietnam and the Philippines in recent times, MOCST’s Deputy Minister Ta Quang Dong said: Over the years, the two sides have actively implemented cultural and artistic exchange activities on the basis of bilateral and multilateral ASEAN cooperation. The Philippines has participated in cultural and artistic activities organised by Vietnam and vice versa.

In the field of sports, Vietnam and the Philippines are two member countries of the Southeast Asian Sports Federation, therefore, they often have close cooperation in all areas of sports such as competitions, training, expert exchanges,...

In the tourism sector, Vietnam and the Philippines signed the Tourism Cooperation Agreement 1994, the Vietnam-Philippines Tourism Cooperation Plan for the 2006-2008 and 2012-2015 periods, and the Cruise Tourism Cooperation Plan for 2014-2016. Currently, the two sides are exchanging the content of the Draft Cooperation Program between the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism of Vietnam and the Ministry of Tourism of the Philippines.

MOCST’s Deputy Minister Ta Quang Dong gifting souvenir to Ambassador Meynardo Los Banos Montealegre (Photo: toquoc.vn)

In order to develop culture, sports and tourism cooperation, MOCST’s Deputy Minister Ta Quang Dong suggested: The two sides need to continue promoting cooperation in the cultural field within the bilateral and multilateral frameworks of ASEAN; actively participate in international cultural and artistic activities held in each country, participate in cultural and artistic programs within the framework of ASEAN.

It is necessary to encourage and facilitate airlines to open more direct flights to prominent tourist destinations of the two countries; strengthen information exchange on cruise tourism and new seaports, focus on connecting destinations, include Vietnamese and Philippine sea tourism destinations in cruise schedules to create new tours, and jointly promote the development of cruise tourism in the two countries.

Ambassador Meynardo Los Banos Montealegre gifting souvenir to MOCST’s Deputy Minister Ta Quang Dong (Photo: toquoc.vn)

Speaking at the meeting, Mr. Meynardo Los Banos Montealegre, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of the Philippines to Vietnam indicated, the Philippines and Vietnam have a deep bilateral relationship. The two sides not only have close political and economic relations but also promote cultural cooperation, which is one of the factors contributing to the increasingly stronger relationship between the Philippines and Vietnam. In 2024, Vietnam and the Philippines signed many cooperation documents and agreements including culture field.

According to Ambassador Meynardo Los Banos Montealegre, in the next two years, the Philippine Embassy plans to organise a series of cultural events in Vietnam. Specifically, in the fourth quarter of 2024, the Philippine Embassy plans to invite Philippine jewellery artisans to Vietnam to display products and organise a Christmas lantern lighting ceremony at the Embassy.

In 2025, the Philippine Embassy plans to organise several activities such as: Invite Filipino artists to Vietnam to exhibit their works; Organise exhibitions of Filipino artists at museums in Ha Noi, or organise art workshops at galleries and cultural spaces in Ha Noi; Organise exchanges between culinary experts and chefs from the Philippines and Vietnam; Organise art programmes to celebrate the 10th anniversary of the strategic partnership…

Delegates taking souvenir photo (Photo: toquoc.vn)

"We look forward to the support and cooperation of the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism of Vietnam in cultural activities held in Vietnam in late 2024 and 2025. I think these are cultural activities organised to mark the milestone in the relationship between the Philippines and Vietnam, and also an opportunity to promote the bilateral relationship between the two countries to become stronger and more sustainable in the coming time", said Ambassador Meynardo Los Banos Montealegre.

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