Activities to promote cultural and educational exchanges such as the organisation of exhibitions and the building of a Vietnam-Korea friendship school have made important contributions to strengthening the bond between the two countries’ peoples and are a lively symbol of the Vietnam-DPRK relationship.
Vietnam and the DPRK established diplomatic relations in 1950. In the nearly 70-year history of bilateral ties, the two countries have reaped many fine cooperation achievements, in which cultural and educational cooperation is a “bright spot”.
During the 1960-1970 period, the DPRK helped Vietnam train hundreds of students. Vietnam dispatched many art troupes to the DPRK to attend the April Spring Friendship Art Festival held in Pyongyang, thereby introducing Vietnamese culture to Korean friends and helping to enhance mutual understanding and cementing the solidarity between the two countries.
In December 2018, a photo exhibition entitled “Vietnam-DPRK Friendship” was held in Hanoi, attracting many Vietnamese visitors, especially young people. About 80 photos were exhibited, showcasing important milestones in the nearly 70-year history of the Vietnam-DPRK relationship, which was built up by President Ho Chi Minh and Chairman Kim Il-sung and has been nurtured by generations of leaders and people of the two countries.
The exhibition also introduced a beautiful DPRK with a long history and unique culture as well as the achievements that the people of DPRK have recorded during national construction and development.
DPRK Ambassador to Vietnam Kim Myong Gil stressed that the “Vietnam-DPRK Friendship” photo exhibition is a highly meaningful cultural event for the two countries’ peoples to review the important milestones in the history of traditional friendship and cooperation between the two countries, thus strengthening the solidarity and friendship between the two peoples.
In addition to culture and arts, education is also an important bridge connecting the people of Vietnam and the DPRK. In Hanoi, there is a school considered the symbol of the traditional relationship between the two countries, that is the Vietnam-DPRK Friendship Kindergarten.
The school was established in 1978 with basic construction and all the equipment, learning tools and pianos funded by the DPRK. The school is evidence for a friendship that exceeds beyond time and space between the two countries, helping to develop the fine traditional relationship between Vietnam and the DPRK. In recent years, the school has always paid attention to enhancing the quality of children’s education and is a bright spot of nursery education in Hanoi.
During his visit to Vietnam in late 2018, the DPRK’s Foreign Minister Ri Yong-ho expressed his hope that the two countries will increase exchanges and cooperation in certain areas in accordance with the need and potential of each country as well as the development of the new situation.
With the desire and efforts to cultivate the bilateral relationship by generations of the two countries, the fine traditional relationship between Vietnam and the DPRK will continue to be extended by economic, cultural and educational cooperation, helping to open new development opportunities for both countries.
