On the morning of March 4, 2021, Ms. Kieu Thuy Nga, Director of the National Library of Viet Nam (NLV) welcomed Mr. Etienne Rolland-Piègue, Counselor for Culture and Cooperation – French Embassy to Viet Nam and Mr. Phillipne Le Failler, Representative of the French School of the Far East to Viet Nam to visit and work.

Overview of the meeting

At the meeting, the NLV Director happily shared about results of the cooperation between the NLV and the NLF recently. She took the time to introduce about France-Viet Nam Information Portal which just opened on February 12, 2021, right on the first day of the traditional Vietnamese New Year. This is the result of diversified and effective cooperation between the two national libraries, based on the idea of the NLF mentioned in the Cooperation Agreement between the two libraries term 2016-2018. In the two years of 2019-2020, the NLV and the NLF have actively cooperated and exchanged ideas to select and digitize materials, integrated materials into the Portal, organized and attended meetings of the science council, invited experts to write introductory articles to realize this Portal. With about 2,000 original materials, of which the NLV contributed 1,157 items in Vietnamese, the Portal emphasizes the relationship between Viet Nam and France from the 17^th to the middle of the 20^th century, highlights the mutual cultural, historical and scientific influences between the two countries. According to the Director, the NLV and the NLF currently hold the world biggest collections about colonial Viet Nam. The digitization of these materials will make the materials about the two countries’ common historical period more accessible, meeting expectations of the public and researchers around the world.

Ms. Kieu Thuy Nga introduces about the France-Viet Nam information Portal

Speaking at the meeting, the Counselor for Culture and Cooperation – French Embassy expressed his pleasure at the cooperative achievements of the two national libraries over the past time. He thanked the Director for her efforts and contributions to the France – Viet Nam Information Portal, at the same time proposed to coordinate with the NLV to organize an event to open, introduce and promote the France – Viet Nam Information Portal in the shortest time to let the media and the public know about the Portal and have the opportunity to access these heritage resources of the two national libraries.

Mr. Etienne Rolland-Piègue proposes to jointly organize an event to open the France – Viet Nam Information Portal

The Director welcomed the goodwill of the French Embassy in Viet Nam and wished the two sides would organize the event soon. She emphasized that this is the first step, the two libraries still have to make more efforts to increase digital resources, contributing to the sustainable development of the Portal. She hopes to continue receiving the companionship and active supports from the French Embassy and the French School of the Far East in Viet Nam in continuing to implement the France – Viet Nam Information Portal and cultural exchange cooperation activities in the coming time.

Delegation of the French Embassy take souvenir photo with the National Library of Viet Nam

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News: Huong Giang; Photos: Viet Duc