Islamabad:
In a significant step to strengthening bilateral relations, Vietnam has proposed a collaborative initiative with Pakistan to increase tro -based and cultural tourism considering their common Buddhist heritage.
The proposal was made today by ambassador for Vietnam Ambassad Pham Anh Tuan during a meeting with Pakistan’s Minister of National Heritage & Culture Aurangzeb Khan Khichi.
The ambassador highlighted Vietnam’s millennia old civilization and rich Buddhist history and emphasized his commitment to preserving both tangible and intangible cultural heritage. “A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step,” he said, stressing that today’s meeting marks a crucial step in friendship and cooperation between the two nations.
The Vietnamese official proposed several key areas of cooperation, including the promotion of Buddhist pilgrimage, cultural festivals and joint heritage projects. A concrete step that was made was the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (Mou) between Taxila Museum in Pakistan and leading Vietnamese museums, such as the Vietnam National Museum of History and Museum of Vietnamese History in Ho Chi Minh City.
Mou aims to facilitate travel exhibitions that would show the rich Buddhist art and heritage in both countries. A quoted example was a special exhibition entitled “Buddhist Art along Silke Road” with masterpieces from Taxila along with Vietnamese artifacts that offer a “window into the past” and a deeper understanding of their interconnected stories.
The proposed partnership extends beyond exhibitions to include the relief of regular exchanges of curators, conservators and archaeologists to share expertise in heritage management and preservation techniques.
Development of joint programs for students, researchers and the public about Buddhist iconography, archaeological techniques and inheritance conservation.
