A photo exhibition on the land and people of Vietnam opened in Perth city, the State of Western Australia, on June 30.
The photos on show were taken by Michael Vander Zanden, Director of the
Classic Studio Company during his trip to the Dong Van Stone Plateau in
the northern mountainous province of Ha Giang in late 2013.
On display are also documentary photos on China’s illegal placement
of its oil rig in Vietnam’s waters and Chinese ships’ firing of water
cannons at Vietnam’s law enforcement vessels and sinking of a fishing
boat owned by Da Nang fishermen.
Addressing the
opening ceremony, Vietnamese Consul General to Perth Le Viet Duyen
highlighted Vietnam’s time-honoured culture and history, friendly
people and beautiful natural landscapes.
Vietnam
boasts seven world natural and cultural heritage sites together with a
global geo-park recognised by the UN Educational, Scientific and
Cultural Organisation (UNESCO), he said.
Many Vietnamese
landscapes have become familiar to international tourists, including Ha
Long, Nha Trang, Mui Ne and Sapa, he said, adding that they symbolise a
beautiful country of Vietnam with its friendly, hospitable and
peace-loving people.
However, Duyen noted that the
peaceful life in Vietnam might be threatened if the environment of
peace, security and stability in the Asia-Pacific region is not
maintained.
He stressed that the current tension in the
East Sea after China’s illegal placement of its oil rig Haiyang
Shiyou-981 in Vietnam’s exclusive economic zone and continental shelf
threatens not only peace, security and stability in the region but also
security and safety for the world’s most important marine route in the
East Sea. Duyen added that more than half of Australia’s export
goods are transported using this route.
Mike Nahan,
Treasurer of Western Australia and Minister for Energy, Citizenship and
Multicultural Interests, said he is really impressed by the culture and
history of Vietnam as well as its hospitable people after his visits
to the country.
He expressed his hope that relations
between Vietnam and Australia in general and the State of Western
Australia in particular will further develop in the future.
The exhibition will run until July 11.-VNA