Fifty six years ago, on May 9, 1950, French Foreign Minister Robert Schuman made a famous speech, the so-called “Schuman Declaration”, calling upon France, Germany and other European countries to pool together their coal and steel productions as “the first concrete bases of a European Federation essential to the safeguarding of peace”. This laid the foundation for gathering the European nations into what today is the European Union. The 9th of May has since become “Europe Day”, a day which is celebrated in the EU and throughout the world.
This is 3rd Europe Day in Vietnam. Following the resounding success of the 2004 and 2005 editions, a series of activities introducing European Union, culture and relations with Vietnam has become an important event in Vietnam’s annual culture activities.
This year’s Europe Days programme has significant meaning because it not only celebrate Europe Day (May 9), bit also “the Year of Europe in Vietnam” as designated in Prime Minister Phan Van Khai’s decision of 14 June 2005 enacting Vietnam’s Master Plan on future Vietnam-EU relations.
Europe Days 2006, will take place throughout the month of May, include a series of colourful and diverse events and programmes organised by the Delegation of the European Commission to Vietnam, the Embassies of EU Member States and the European Cultural Institutes.
The programme not only depicts the multi-faceted relationship between Vietnam and European Union, but also reinforces the feature of a Europe “united in diversity” said Austria ambassador Johannes Peterlik.
Dr Markus Cornaro, ambassador-Head of the Delegation of the European Commission to Vietnam said “European Days programmes have developed and broadened over the years, reflecting the multi-faceted relationship between the EU and Vietnam. Reaching far beyond development and economic ties, our relations also include a strong cultural and intellectual exchange component which is adding significance to our efforts in bringing our people closer together”.
Events on the Europe Days:
1. Official visit to Vietnam by Mrs Benita Ferrero-Waldner, EU Commissioner for External Relations from April 21-23.
2. A Postage Stamp Design competition on the theme of EU-Vietnam cooperation launched by the delegation of the European Commission to Vietnam in collaboration with the Vietnam Posts & Telecommunications Corporation in April 2006 will be awarded in the first week of October 2006.
3. The British Council organised a special performance by the British story teller Ms Cassandra Wye and the Vietnamese artist Le Khanh at the Youth Theatre on April 21, 2006.
4. From April 26 to May 4, the National Fine Arts Museum at 66 Nguyen Thai Hoc, Ha Noi displayed photomedia of 9 artists from this region and another 9 German artists through the art platform
artconneXions@goethe.de..
5. A private collection “View from Outside Vietnamese Portraits” by Nobert Moos/Cologne displays 40 of the most fascinating portraits of Vietnamese people of all social origins, one century ago from April 27-May 15 at Goethe -Institute Hanoi, 56-58 Nguyen Thai Hoc, Hanoi.
6. The delegation of the European Commission to Vietnam in coordination with the Vietnam National Opera and Ballet introduced the classic ballet “La Sylphide” on May 6-7 at Opera House, No. 1, Trang Tien, Hanoi and May 15 at Opera House, Ho Chi Minh City.
7. EU-Vietnam Children’s Football Matches for the age of 13 and 16 takes place at Hang Day National Stadium, No 2, Trinh Hoai Duc Str., Hanoi.
8. The exhibition “Children Tell through Paintings and Short Stories” introduces 300 paintings and 50 short stories with the theme “East or West, Home is best” on May 9-13 at Room 2, at Hanoi Children Palace, 36 Ly Thai To Str., Hanoi.
9. A very trendy rock band on the French music scene, Aston Villa carried a dark and a dense vision of the world on May 9 in Hanoi and May 10 in Ho Chi Minh City City.
10. European Film Festival features 12 films of Austria, Belgium (Wallonie-Brussels), Denmark, France, Findland, Germany, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Sweden, Potugal and the Unitedd Kingdoam on May 10-22 at National Cinema Centre, 87 Lang Ha, Hanoi and May 16-27 at Galaxy Cinema, 116 Nguyen Du, Ho Chi Minh City City.
11. The first Institute for International Relations European Studies course organised by the delegation of European Commission to Vietnam and other EU diplomatic missions in Hanoi is closed on May 11, 2006.
12. Arts Forum Activities are organised every Friday at Hanoi Cinemateque, 22A Hai Ba Trung, Hanoi to encourage the exchage of information and networking between artists and those interested in the arts in Vietnam.
13. Television Quiz and Information Programmes consists of 6 quiz and information television programmes about European Union-Vietnam relations and the global role of the EU are broadcast on the most popular national TV channel-VTV1 in the first week of April to second week of May.
14. Round table discussion on European and Vietnamese cultural experiences entitled “Unity in Diversity-European Culture and the Vietnamese Perception” organised by the delegation of European Commission to Vietnam takes place on May 16, in Ho Chi Minh City.
15. Vietnam-EU Business Forum is organised by the Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry and the European Chamber of Commerce on May 22, at Melia hotel, 44 Ly Thuong Kiet, Hanoi.
16. The program of the concert “Music of Silence” including composed and improvised music performed by Luis Paniagua with 4000 year old instruments is organised May 24, at Hanoi Opera House, 1 Trang Tien, Hanoi.
17. The 33 artists selected to participate in the Spanish Art Exhibition from 23 May to June 6, at Hanoi, at Hanoi Fine Art Museum, 66 Nguyen Thai Hoc, Hanoi offer a good cross-section of the development of this form of artistic expression over the past 20 years in Spain.
18. Essay Contest on the occasion of the “Year of Europe in Vietnam” organised by the delegation of European Commission in conjunction with the Vietnam Students Union runs until May 10 and awarded in late May.
Thu Huyen
Vietnamese
