Photo for illustration (Source: vovworld.vn)
The biennial event is co-organized by the Albert Einstein University in cooperation with the Germany-Vietnam Friendship Association, Germany-Laos Friendship Association, Germany-Thailand Friendship Association and Germany-Cambodia Friendship Association.
Speaking at the event, Ms. Jutta Kaddatz, who is in charge of culture and education of Berlin’s Tempelhof-Schöneberg district, affirmed that the festival is a good opportunity to promote the image of the lands and peoples of the Mekong subregion countries, while contributing to increasing understanding and cooperation among countries in the subregion, as well as the local people with the cultures of the nations.
In the area for Vietnamese culture, seminars on culture, people, integration process, and Vietnamese laborers in Germany were organized. In particular, Professor Wilfried Lulei, Head of the Advisory Council of the Germany-Vietnam Friendship Association, shared his experience of the land, people, culture and politics of Vietnam.
Having been in Vietnam more than 50 years ago, and having then returned to the country for many times for study and work, Mr. Lulei is very close and knowledgeable about Vietnam, as well as changes of the Southeast Asian country.
In addition, the participants are invited to attend a presentation about Vietnam’s sea and islands by Dr. Gerhard Will, an expert on Southeast Asia who has worked at the Institute of Politics and Science (SWP) in Berlin. The presentation was appreciated by the participants, thereby helping them to visualize and obtain accurate information on the current situation of disputes in the East Sea.
During the festival, the visitors also enjoyed special art performances of Vietnam, Thailand, Laos and Cambodia, with films about the cultures of the countries. Besides, a photo exhibition named "GLAD to be here", which runs until October 20th, also attracts a large number of people.
Mr. Siegfried Sommer, Head of the Germany-Vietnam Friendship Association, said this year's festival attracted a large number of visitors and it is a good opportunity to promote the culture, tourism and people of the Mekong sub-region countries to the local people. For Vietnam, it is meaningful in engaging and developing the friendly relations with Germany./.