HÀ NỘI AND BEIJING SIGN MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING ON HERITAGE CONSERVATION AND PROMOTION

On the morning of August 25, 2026, at the Special National Monument of Văn Miếu – Quốc Tử Giám, the Hà Nội Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism and the Beijing Municipal Cultural Heritage Bureau of China held a ceremony to sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on cooperation in the conservation and promotion of cultural heritage.

Representing Beijing at the ceremony were Ms. Zhang Lixin, Director of the Beijing Municipal Cultural Heritage Bureau; Ms. Chang Shuo, Head of the Heritage Research and Management Division (World Heritage Nomination Division) of the Beijing Municipal Cultural Heritage Bureau; Mr. Lu Jiabing, Director of the Confucian Temple and Imperial College Museum; Ms. Yi Chunliu, Chief of Office of the Confucian Temple and Imperial College Museum; and Mr. Lu Cheng, an official from the Exhibition Division of the Confucian Temple and Imperial College Museum.

Representing Hà Nội were Mr Trần Đình Thành, Deputy Director General of the Department of Cultural Heritage, Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism; Mr Phạm Tuấn Long, Member of the Hà Nội Party Committee and Director of the Hà Nội Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism; and Mr Trần Trung Hiếu, Deputy Director of the Hà Nội Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism.

The ceremony was also attended by representatives of Hà Nội’s municipal departments, agencies and sectors; leaders of divisions and units under the Hà Nội Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism; as well as members of the press and media.

At the ceremony, the two sides exchanged views on the conservation and promotion of cultural heritage. Representatives of the Hà Nội Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism and the Beijing Municipal Cultural Heritage Bureau shared their experiences in heritage management, conservation, research, and promotion, and discussed directions for future cooperation.

Speaking at the ceremony, Mr Phạm Tuấn Long, Director of the Hà Nội Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism, stated:

“The Memorandum of Understanding signed today clearly demonstrates the commitment, shared understanding and common aspiration of the two state cultural management authorities of Hà Nội and Beijing to continuously strengthen cooperation on the principles of equality, mutual respect and mutual benefit, in accordance with the functions, responsibilities and scope of authority of each side....”

Ms Zhang Lixin, Director of the Beijing Municipal Cultural Heritage Bureau, also shared:

“Cultural heritage bears witness to history and provides a foundation for the future. Our delegation has come here with the mission to implement the Memorandum of Understanding and advance specific projects. We firmly believe that today’s open and productive dialogue will lay the groundwork for a practical cooperation agreement and enable us to reach important areas of consensus. This will not only provide valuable experience for Beijing’s development as a ‘City of Museums’, but also generate strong cultural momentum for the China–Viet Nam comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership.”

As part of the program, the Director of the Hà Nội Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism and the Director of the Beijing Municipal Cultural Heritage Bureau formally signed the Memorandum of Understanding, marking a new step forward in cooperation between the two agencies in the conservation and promotion of cultural heritage.

On this occasion, the delegation from the Beijing Municipal Cultural Heritage Bureau visited Văn Miếu – Quốc Tử Giám, where they learned about the site’s history, architecture and outstanding heritage values. The monument stands as an enduring symbol of the Vietnamese people’s devotion to learning and respect for knowledge.

The cooperation opens up further opportunities for the two sides to exchange experience and strengthen professional connections in heritage management, conservation, research and promotion. Through these efforts, the historical and cultural values embodied in heritage can be shared more widely amid growing international integration and cooperation.

TL: LH