To celebrate 35 years of the diplomatic relations between Vietnam and Germany, the year 2010 has been selected as “Germany Year in Vietnam” and “Vietnam Year in Germany”.
This is a project to be implemented throughout the year, with more than 50 events, sponsored by German President Horst Kôhler and Vietnamese President Nguyen Minh Triet.
Three steadfast mainstays
Mr Rolf Schulze, German Ambassador to Vietnam, remarked that the diplomatic relations between Vietnam and Germany are all-inclusive, built on three mainstays: Economy, politics and culture. Therefore, programmes and events in the “Germany Year in Vietnam” will have all three areas.
Ms Mariana Mai, Director of Goethe Institute Hanoi, said 50 events will be held in sequence during 12 months of the year and divided into four major themes: Arts, urban, environment, economic seminar and education.
Beethoven’s Symphony No.9 opens the Deutschland Year in Vietnam 2010 held in the Hanoi Opera House on January 23, 2010. In the arts category, there are 18 other events to be implemented within the framework of the project: German film festival in Vietnam; Gudni Emilsson concert; Asia - Europe music festival; international fashion show; contemporary dance shows to be organised in Hanoi and HCM City; Photo exhibitions in Hue, Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City; cultural conservation programme in Vietnam; shaping performances in Hanoi, Hue and HCM City; Tran Dang communal house preservation; Tu Duc Royal Tomb conservation project.
The urban category will include six events: Architectural design competition for Vietnam - Germany University; city in art exhibition; “climate change and sustainable urban development” conference; exhibition on Hanoi; bamboo architecture exhibition; and urban space layout programme.
Economic cooperation in the limelight
Within the framework of "Germany Year in Vietnam”, there will be more than 20 conferences and exhibitions on education and economy.
At the Germany education exhibition, representatives of universities and training institutions in Germany will be present to directly provide information and advice on study and research in Germany.
The German Academy of Exchange (DAAD) will have a booth at the exhibition for its own advice on scholarships for students of German in Vietnam. The German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) will have an exclusive space at the exhibition to consult on German scholarships for Vietnamese students.
In 2010, Vietnam and Germany will establish the German Law Institute in Vietnam. The Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung Institute will cooperate with several other German partners to support activities of the teaching, research and documentation projects. The inaugural ceremony of the institute scheduled to be held in March 2010 will incorporate the seminar on “International comparison in of the labour law field.”
The seminar on economic cooperation between Germany and Vietnam will be organised in April 2010 with the participation of a special speaker, former German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder - a close friend of the people of Vietnam.
The workshop on “Social market economy - a model for Vietnam" will be held in May 2010 by Konrad-Adenauer in collaboration with the Institute of State and Law of Vietnam. This event will be attended by German experts and Vietnamese politicians, scientists and social specialists.
In October 2010, the exhibition on “Offered human resources - Vietnam Vietnamese co-operated workers in Germany” will be held by the department in charge of integration of Brandenburg State of Germany and the Song Hong Association. The exhibition will introduce the lives of Vietnamese workers in Germany.
Five environmental events will take place in 2010: Introduction of wastewater management models in provincial capitals; workshop on "sustainable forestry, biodiversity and climate protection"; information festival on management of coastal areas; televised introduction of Phong Nha-Ke Bang national park; and ecological exhibition: design and synergy.
In recent years, German development cooperation organisations such as KfW, GTZ and DED have implemented a diversity project with many activities to improve the living conditions of people in urban centres in some provinces of Vietnam. The exhibition on water management models will be held in such provinces and cities as Bac Ninh, Hai Duong, Vinh, Can Tho, Soc Trang and Tra Vinh.
Through these activities, people and organisations selected will have the opportunity to provide information about the daily work of environmental and sanitation companies as well as about the project. From 1945 to present, Vietnam's forest cover has shrunk by a half. German -Vietnam Development Cooperation has quickly joined and succeeded in assisting Vietnam to develop sustainable forestry and protect forest resources.
Mr Pham Sanh Chau, Head of the Department of Culture-UNESCO (Ministry of Foreign Affairs), said, the “Vietnam Year in Germany” will be held in Germany. However, the programme will include only about 5-6 events, mainly Vietnamese arts and cultural exhibitions. (VNE)
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