A delegation from the Ministry of Culture and Fine Arts of Cambodia led by Secretary of State H.E. Long Ponnasirivath paid a visit to Tra Vinh, a coastal Southern province, during his stay in Vietnam for the Cambodia Culture Week.

On Sept. 30, the delegation was received by Chairman of the People’s Committee of Tra Vinh province H.E. Le Van Han, according to Vietnam News Agency (VNA). 

Lauding Tra Vinh’s strong performance in preserving cultural heritage and great attention to improving the material and spiritual life of Khmer community, H.E. Long Ponnasirivath expressed his hope that the Mekong Delta province will continue to provide best conditions for Cambodian students in the locality.

H.E. Le Van Han said that about 31 percent of Tra Vinh population are from the Khmer ethnic minority group. The province is home to 143 Buddhism pagodas, many of which have been recognised as national cultural heritage. They have received regular restoration and upgrade, he continued.

At the same time, the locality has paid great attention to the preservation of cultural values of the Khmer community, he said, adding that schools in the Khmer community-inhabited areas have taught both Vietnamese and Khmer languages.

Tra Vinh University is the only in the country that has a Southern Khmer language, culture and arts faculty, he pointed out.

Han said that along with the socio-economic and cultural development in the locality, the level of literacy of Khmer people in recent years has increased markedly, while the cultural identity of the community has always been preserved and promoted.

The provincial leader also briefed the guest on the potential development of the locality, which has 65kilometre coastline and great advantages in wind power production. Tra Vinh is home to 11 wind power projects and three thermal power projects, he added, suggesting that the Cambodian Ministry of Culture and Fine Arts will help popularise the local tourist destinations to international friends.

The Cambodia Culture Week in Vietnam is taking place from Sept. 27 to Oct. 2 in Ho Chi Minh City and Tra Vinh on the occasion of the 55th anniversary of the Vietnam-Cambodia diplomatic ties and the Vietnam-Cambodia Friendship Year.

Source: Agency Kampuchea Press