The 4th meeting of the Vietnam - Mozambique Intergovernmental Committee held in May last year agreed to deepen the friendship between the two countries, including the enhancement of cooperation in the field of culture, sports and tourism, recalled Mozambican Ambassador to Vietnam Leonardo Pene.

The meeting is a great opportunity for the two sides to review the previously signed MOUs and move towards signing new ones. At the meeting, the Mozambique side proposed to increase the exchange of delegations at all levels, exchange and promote culture, sports and tourism as well as management experience in the fields of culture, sports and tourism.

MOCST’s Deputy Minister Ta Quang Dong having a meeting with Mozambican Ambassador to Vietnam Leonardo Pene (Photo: MOCST)

According to Mozambican Ambassador Leonardo Pene, post the Covid-19 pandemic, a new door will be open to the cooperative relationship between the two countries. Therefore, it is highly important that the two sides review the existing cooperation and have a direction for future cooperation.

MOCST’s Deputy Minister Ta Quang Dong stated, Vietnam and Mozambique held a very successful Intergovernmental Committee meeting with many contents related to the fields of culture, sports and tourism. This will be a premise for the MOCST of Vietnam and the Embassy of Mozambique to have more connection activities to promote cooperation in the fields of culture, sports and tourism between the two countries.

In the field of tourism, the number of exchange visitors between the two sides is mainly business visitors. Sports cooperation activities between the two countries take place infrequently, mainly the exchange of delegations, referees, coaches and athletes participating in international sports tournaments held at the World Championships such as the Olympics. Traditional Vietnamese martial arts, especially Vovinam, are popular in African countries. However, it has not yet developed in Mozambique.

MOCST’s Deputy Minister Ta Quang Dong at the meeting (Photo: MOCST)

Yet, MOCST’s Deputy Minister Ta Quang Dong strongly stressed that Vietnam and Mozambique have great potential for cooperation in the fields of culture, sports and tourism. Although it is not possible to immediately organise large events, the two sides can start with smaller activities such as organising exhibitions, film screenings, exchange of a number of artist troupes, exchange of films and exhibitions to introduce the culture and images of the two countries, etc.

Besides, the Vietnamese Embassy in Mozambique can organise Vietnamese film weeks in Mozambique and vice versa. Or the Mozambican Embassy can organise a few exhibitions introducing the country of Mozambique in Ha Noi,… suggested MOCST’s Deputy Minister Ta Quang Dong.

MOCST will support groups of folk artists from Mozambique to perform at major stages in Vietnam as well as to provide the Embassy with venues to introduce films, display images of the country, Mozambican people in Vietnam.

Delegates taking souvenir photo (Photo: MOCST)

At the meeting, Mozambique Ambassador Leonardo Pene informed, it is expected that in October, the President of Mozambique will have an official visit to Vietnam, which will be a good opportunity for the two sides to implement cooperation activities. The Embassy of Mozambique will connect with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs about cooperation activities and soon inform the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism of Vietnam.

From 29th to 31st May 2023, the 4th meeting of the Vietnam - Mozambique Intergovernmental Committee on Economic, Culture and Scientific-Technological Cooperation, took place in Maputo capital city of Mozambique.

The two sides recognized the importance of people-to-people exchanges in cooperation between the two countries, contributing to deepening the existing friendship, and agreed to continue promoting these activities through the exchange of groups of artists, organise film festivals, photo and art exhibitions and other forms. The two sides emphasised the importance of exchanging information, policies and laws related to tourism and sharing experiences and good models on tourism of each side.

The two sides agreed to promote academic and professional exchange in the fields of hospitality management, tourism promotion, sustainable tourism development, tourism statistics, information and communication technology application in tourism. The two sides also emphasised the need to promote the exchange of sports activities in different fields.

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