To Lam Opens Vietnam-Russia Heritage and Cultural Exchange Space

General Secretary and President To Lam and his wife joined senior Vietnamese delegates on Sept. 8 to open a Vietnam-Russia heritage and cultural exchange space at the S.A. Gerasimov All-Russian State Institute of Cinematography, known as VGIK, in Moscow.

The opening coincided with the 70th anniversary of the arrival of Vietnam’s first students in cultural fields to study in the Soviet Union, now Russia. Russian Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Chernyshenko, First Deputy Chairman of the Federation Council Andrey Yatskin, Culture Minister Olga Lyubimova and VGIK rector Vladimir Malyshev attended the event.

Chernyshenko said the space would become a symbol of friendship between the two countries and a meeting point for people who value Vietnam’s distinctive culture. He recalled Vietnamese students who studied at VGIK and later became prominent artists, directors, painters and cinematographers in Vietnam. He described them as the first builders of Vietnam-Russia cooperation in cultural and artistic training.

To Lam said Vietnam-Russia relations rested on deep political trust, lasting and sincere affection, and understanding between two peoples that had experienced historical challenges. He described culture, education and the arts as highly important to the relationship, calling culture its spiritual foundation and internal driving force.

To Lam expressed Vietnam’s gratitude for the support provided by the former Soviet Union and present-day Russia in training cultural and artistic personnel for more than seven decades. He said VGIK had helped inspire generations of Vietnam’s first directors, screenwriters, painters and cinematographers, who helped shape the country’s film industry. He also said heritage remains alive through creativity, while friendship becomes lasting when passed on through people’s hearts.

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Heritage only truly lives when it is continued through creativity, and friendship only truly endures when it is passed on through people’s hearts.