Prof. Dr. Hoang Anh Tuan, on behalf of the School Board, welcomed and presented a souvenir to Mr. Yamada Takio (Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Japan to Vietnam).
The workshop was attended by Mr. Yamada Takio (Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Japan to Vietnam), Mr. Ando Toshiki (Director of the Japan Foundation Center for Cultural Exchange in Vietnam), Prof. Bando Mariko (Chairman of the Council of Showa Women's University), Prof. Kohara Natsuko (Rector of Showa Women's University), Prof. Tomoda Hiromichi (Director of the Center for International Cultural Studies, Showa Women's University), Prof. Fukuakawa Yuichi (Chairman of the Japan Association for the Preservation of Old Quarters), Ms. Trinh Thuc Thanh Thuy (Head of the People's Participation Promotion Committee, JICA Vietnam Office) and many Japanese scientists and conservation experts who participated in presenting papers and discussions online.
Attending the workshop, on behalf of the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, there was Mr. Tran Dinh Thanh (Deputy Director of the Department of Cultural Heritage). On behalf of the University of Social Sciences and Humanities, there were Prof. Dr. Hoang Anh Tuan (Rector), Assoc. Prof. Dr. Dao Thanh Truong (Vice Rector) and teachers and staff from the faculties and departments of the university: Oriental Studies, International Studies, Tourism Studies, History participating in presentations and discussions. In addition, the workshop also had the participation of many experts, researchers, cultural managers from the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism of Tien Giang province, Hoi An Cultural Heritage Management and Conservation Center, Duong Lam Ancient Village Relic Management Board, Ho Chi Minh City University of Architecture, etc.
In his opening speech at the workshop, Principal Hoang Anh Tuan emphasized: “The relationship between Vietnam and Japan is a strategic relationship with a very long history, in which cultural cooperation is highly valued by the leaders of the two countries and has achieved many important achievements in recent years. In the past two years, the COVID-19 pandemic has had a huge impact, posing severe challenges for all countries in the world, including the field of Heritage Conservation and Promotion. If cultural heritage is not properly preserved, it may completely disappear. Therefore, we are extremely grateful for the cooperation and support of the Embassy of Japan, the Japan Foundation, Showa Women's University and many Japanese professors and scientists for the University of Social Sciences and Humanities to organize this meaningful workshop. The workshop is expected to propose many solutions to help improve the effectiveness of Heritage Conservation and Promotion in the new context”.
Prof. Dr. Hoang Anh Tuan (Principal) delivered the opening speech
Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Japan to Vietnam Yamada Takio also particularly emphasized the extremely long-standing historical relationship between Vietnam and Japan: Since the 16th-17th centuries, Japanese Red Seal Ships have come to trade and build many neighborhoods in Vietnam. In 2023, both Vietnam and Japan will organize a series of events to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the establishment of Vietnam-Japan friendship relations; this workshop is one of the very important events towards that anniversary and at the same time is an opportunity for exchange, cooperation, and experience sharing between experts from the two countries on a very urgent issue: preserving and promoting the value of heritage to adapt to the new situation after COVID-19. Mr. Yamada Takio affirmed: “The cultural cooperation relationship between Vietnam and Japan “contains unlimited potential” and is facing opportunities of leapfrogging. Seminars like this are typical examples, contributing to the strong development of the relationship between Vietnam and Japan in the present and the future”.
Mr. Yamada Takio gave a welcoming speech.
After the opening session, the Workshop worked in subcommittees:
Subcommittee 1: Heritage conservation issues during Covid-19 seen from the Hoi An Bridge Conservation and Restoration Project
Subcommittee 2: Regional innovation towards preserving and promoting heritage values
Subcommittee 3: Current status of cultural heritage in the context of Covid-19 pandemic
The workshop listened to experts and scientists from Vietnam and Japan present 8 reports reflecting the current status of typical cultural heritages in Hoi An, Duong Lam, Nghe An, Tien Giang (in terms of architecture, decorative arts, costumes, festivals, cuisine, cultural life of the people, etc.); mentioning international lessons and experiences shared from Japanese heritage conservation examples. The content of the reports pointed out: Vietnam's world cultural heritages are facing the risk of serious degradation, the work of preserving and promoting the value of heritages is also facing many difficulties, especially in the past two years due to the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic. Therefore, an urgent issue is the need for the most creative solutions to adapt to the new situation. Practical lessons from the process of restoration, conservation and promotion of the values of specific heritages mentioned in the reports will be valuable suggestions for heritage conservation work in the two countries of Vietnam and Japan.
The workshop also received enthusiastic participation and discussion from the delegates, both directly in the hall and online via Zoom software. Through that, many viewpoints on preservation were clarified, many experiences and very specific solutions were shared to on the one hand maximize the preservation of the original elements of the heritage, on the other hand, best promote the multi-faceted value of the heritage, contributing to the socio-economic and cultural development of the country.
In his closing remarks at the workshop: Mr. Ando Toshiki highly appreciated the research results in the reports at the workshop, the solutions proposed were very meaningful, highly feasible, and mentioned many aspects: coordination of experts, support from many organizations and agencies, but most importantly, the participation of local communities. The room for cooperation between Vietnam and Japan is huge in the issue of cooperation to preserve extremely valuable world heritages in Vietnam, especially in the context of Covid, we can come up with appropriate activities. This workshop is a typical example, despite the epidemic, we can still have appropriate forms of cooperation: for example, successfully organizing a very meaningful workshop in both direct and online forms.
Mr. Ando Toshiki (Director of the Japan Foundation Center for Cultural Exchange in Vietnam) spoke
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Dao Thanh Truong (Vice Principal) concluded: Through the reports and lively discussions in three sessions at the Workshop, we see that, first of all, we need to have the fullest understanding of heritage, then we need to come up with comprehensive solutions based on international experience, mobilizing the participation of the entire community to best preserve and pass on to the next generation the value of those cultural heritages; harmoniously resolving the relationship between conservation and sustainable development; both preserving heritage and promoting the value of heritage in economic development, improving people's lives. In the coming time, we will continue to receive the companionship and effective cooperation from scientists and experts from Japanese universities and research institutes.
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Dao Thanh Truong (Vice Principal) delivered the closing speech of the Workshop
Some images from the workshop: overview of the workshop, delegates reporting and discussing directly in the hall and delegates attending online via Zoom software.
Author:Hanh Quynh
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