On the evening of December 26, at the World Cultural and Natural Heritage Site of Trang An Scenic Landscape Complex, Ninh Binh Province solemnly held the opening ceremony of the 2nd Ninh Binh - Trang An Festival in 2023 with the theme "Colors of Heritage - Convergence and Spread". Ninh Binh Newspaper respectfully publishes the full text of the opening speech by Comrade Pham Quang Ngoc, Deputy Secretary of the Provincial Party Committee, Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee.

- Dear Comrade Vo Thi Anh Xuan, Member of the Party Central Committee, Vice President of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam!

- Dear comrades, members of the Party Central Committee and alternate members of the Party Central Committee!

- Dear domestic and international delegates!

- Dear all people and visitors!

In the joyful atmosphere preparing to welcome the new year 2024, today, at the World Cultural and Natural Heritage Site of Trang An Scenic Landscape Complex, Ninh Binh province solemnly held the Opening Ceremony of Ninh Binh-Trang An Festival 2023, with the theme "Heritage colors - convergence and spread".

On behalf of the Provincial Party Committee, People's Council, and People's Committee of Ninh Binh province, I warmly welcome and respectfully send to the leaders of the Party, State, and Vietnam Fatherland Front; leaders of Central Committees, Commissions, Ministries, branches, and organizations; Ambassadors of countries and international organizations in Vietnam; leaders of provinces and cities; distinguished guests, and all the people and tourists my best wishes for health and happiness. Wishing the Ninh Binh-Trang An Festival 2023 a great success!

Dear delegates, distinguished guests, and all the people and tourists!

Located in a strategic position, the southern gateway of the Northern Delta, the connecting point and intersection of three economic and cultural regions: the Red River Delta, the North Central Coast and the Northern mountainous region, Ninh Binh province is proud to have many famous landscapes, deposited by many layers of cultural sediments. Along with historical relics marking the appearance of prehistoric people more than 30,000 years ago, Hoa Lu-Ninh Binh in the 10th century was chosen as the capital of Dai Co Viet State - the first centralized feudal state in the history of the nation with 3 dynasties: Dinh-Tien Le-Ly. Ninh Binh residents through many generations have created, passed down and spread many unique cultural values ​​with their own characteristics imprinted on nearly 2,000 tangible cultural heritages and nearly 400 intangible cultural heritages.

In 2014, Trang An Scenic Landscape Complex was recognized by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) as a World Cultural and Natural Heritage, the first dual heritage in Vietnam and Southeast Asia, creating new opportunities and motivation for Ninh Binh to implement a development model that harmoniously combines heritage restoration and conservation with green growth, integrating into the network of UNESCO-listed heritage cities in the world.

After more than 30 years of re-establishing the province, with strong will and aspiration for development, Ninh Binh province has achieved many great achievements, rising to become a locality with the 12th highest per capita income in the country, from 2022 becoming a province with self-balancing budget and regulation of the central budget; becoming one of the 3 modern automobile mechanical industry centers of the country; a national and international tourism center; developing ecological agriculture associated with new rural construction with outstanding results. Economic growth is always associated with cultural and social development, protecting the ecological environment, attaching importance to promoting natural resources and cultural resources in the process of renewing the growth model, restructuring economic sectors, and sustainable development. Maintaining important areas for national defense and security. International integration and cooperation are increasingly extensive. Being a safe destination, creating trust for tourists and investors.

Inheriting and promoting the great achievements and outstanding potentials and unique values, Ninh Binh consistently and steadfastly implements the "Green, Sustainable and Harmonious" development method, based on the restoration, conservation and promotion of the outstanding global values ​​of Trang An Scenic Landscape Complex - World Cultural and Natural Heritage; building and developing Ninh Binh province by 2035 to become a centrally-run city based on the specific criteria of a locality with tangible cultural heritage holding the UNESCO title, taking the characteristics of a millennium heritage city and a creative city as core values.

Dear delegates and guests!

Dear all people and visitors!

Following the success of the Trang An Heritage Connection Festival - Ninh Binh in 2022, continuing to promote cultural exchange activities, honoring cultural heritage values ​​in the province, regions in the country and internationally, Ninh Binh province organizes the Ninh Binh - Trang An Festival in 2023. This is a very important cultural activity, affirming the efforts and capacity of Ninh Binh in organizing large-scale cultural events; reflecting the colorful picture of cultural heritage of regions across the country shining in the space of "strange mountains, beautiful waters, fairy caves" of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage Trang An Scenic Landscape Complex with unique live performance art.

Choosing the theme of 2023 as "Heritage Colors - Convergence and Spread", Ninh Binh aims to build its own annual festival brand, attract and expand domestic and international cultural exchange activities, create solidarity and cohesion between countries and ethnic groups, contributing to promoting peace and development cooperation.

In that spirit, on behalf of the Organizing Committee, I respectfully announce the opening of the Ninh Binh - Trang An Festival 2023, with the theme "Colors of Heritage - Convergence and Spread".

I would like to wish the leaders of the Party, State, and Vietnam Fatherland Front; diplomatic agencies, international organizations, delegates, distinguished guests, and all the people and tourists good health, happiness, and success.

I would like to thank you very much!

(*) Title set by the Newspaper

⇒ Opening of the 2nd Ninh Binh-Trang An Festival, 2023

⇒ Building Ninh Binh into one of the leading localities in the country in developing cultural industry, harmoniously combining heritage restoration and conservation with green growth and sustainable development (*)