On November 17, 2011, the University of Social Sciences and Humanities, Vietnam National University, Hanoi, had the honor of welcoming Mr. David Johnston, Governor General of Canada, to visit and participate in the "Multiculturalism" seminar as part of his state visit at the invitation of President Truong Tan Sang.Attending the seminar were Prof. Dr. Nguyen Van Khanh, Rector of the University; Governor General David Johnston; Ms. Deborah Chatsis, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Canada to Vietnam; Mr. Perrin Beatty, President and CEO of the Canadian Chamber of Commerce; Mr. Paul Davidson, President of the Association of Canadian Universities and Colleges; Mr. John R. McDougall, President of the National Research Council of Canada; Prof. Dr. Nguyen Huu Duc, Vice Director of Hanoi National University; and numerous officials from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Education and Training, and 300 students from the Faculty of International Studies, Faculty of Oriental Studies, Faculty of Journalism, Faculty of Tourism, University of Social Sciences and Humanities, Diplomatic Academy of Hanoi, University of Law, and a group of Canadian volunteer students working in Hoa Binh. Also present were staff from the Faculty of International Studies, the only unit in Vietnam with a program in American Studies where Canada is one of the subjects of interest. The four main speakers at the seminar, including three from Canada, were Professor Luong Van Hy, Director of the Graduate Program in Asia-Pacific Studies, University of Toronto; Ms. Li Thanh Kim Thuy, writer; Mr. Kunal Gupta, CEO of Polar Mobile Corporation; and Professor Vu Duong Ninh, University of Social Sciences and Humanities. The seminar was chaired by Associate Professor Pham Quang Minh, Head of the Department of International Studies, University of Social Sciences and Humanities. In his welcoming remarks to Governor-General David Johnston, Professor Pham Quang Minh... Principal Nguyen Van Khanh emphasized: “The harmonious blend of cultures and civilizations from over 200 ethnic groups from different continents has made Canada a vibrant and fragrant garden. The seminar on the topic of “Multiculturalism” will certainly be interesting and engaging because, although the history of the two nations is very different, they both share a common characteristic: a love of peace and cultural tolerance.”
In a press release from the Canadian Embassy, Governor General David Johnston stated: “I am looking forward to my first State visit to Asia as Governor General of Canada. It is a great pleasure and excitement for me to lead a delegation of distinguished Canadian academics and successful businesspeople to Malaysia, Vietnam, and Singapore. These State visits are an opportunity to see firsthand Canada’s activities in Southeast Asia. It will also be a chance to engage in dialogue with our partners and highlight our shared understanding and interests in the areas of trade, investment, innovation, and education. It will also be a special opportunity to meet talented Canadians living and working in these three countries.” The panel discussion was divided into three parts. In the first part, speakers shared their rich and diverse personal experiences on the topic of multiculturalism. Writer Kim Thuy was born in Vietnam, came to Canada at the age of 10, and has achieved success in the field of literature. Her works have won many awards, including the Governor General's Award in 2010. She emphasized the human element, the humanistic nature of the communities in Quebec, demonstrated in their dedicated help, sharing, and support for her and her family in the early days, which helped her integrate into her new life. Cultural values and beliefs are respected and shared, without discrimination. Canada's multicultural policy has facilitated the preservation of diverse cultural values, recognizing English and French as official languages of Canada. Professor Luong Van Hy shared his experiences in Toronto, where he made a name for himself in teaching and research in anthropology, a city where equality between ethnic groups and cultures is respected, without prejudice or discrimination. Canadian multiculturalism, unlike that of the United States, fosters the development of all cultures. A fundamental difference between the US and Canada lies in the Canadian government's deep concern for social welfare and equality among ethnic groups. As the CEO of the renowned Canadian telecommunications company Polar Mobile, Mr. Kunal Gupta highlighted his experiences from an economic and media perspective. According to Mr. Gupta, information culture, media, and language play a crucial role in the era of globalization, especially for young people. However, this situation is not the same everywhere, leading to "culture shock" for him both during his time in China and upon his return to Canada. With over 50 years in the profession, Professor Vu Duong Ninh shared fascinating experiences of multiculturalism in Madagascar, during his two years as a visiting lecturer in 1988-1989. Madagascar's culture is a blend of cultures from the indigenous continent and Southeast Asian ethnic groups dating back thousands of years, which is why many locals mistakenly thought Professor was from Madagascar. Professor's experiences with the various ethnic groups in Vietnam also demonstrate the harmony and sharing between people of different cultures, creating a shared Vietnamese cultural identity. In the second part of the seminar, all four speakers focused on two topics: the role of multiculturalism in development and the impact of globalization on the preservation of cultural values. All speakers emphasized the crucial role of the Canadian government in enacting and implementing the Language Acts (1961 and 1988) and the Multicultural Act (1988), facilitating the development of the culture and language of both indigenous peoples and immigrant ethnic groups in Canada. On average, 150,000-200,000 people immigrate to Canada annually from various continents. What's remarkable is that while they have the opportunity to integrate deeply into Canadian society, they also preserve their own cultural values. Therefore, Canada's cultural values are always preserved, strengthened, and promoted, creating a vibrant and colorful "cultural mosaic," rather than a homogeneous collection like in the United States. The most important aspect of Canada is the sharing, acceptance, and respect for differences, a result of "intercultural communication." Speakers also emphasized that globalization is an inevitable and irreversible trend, with both advantages and disadvantages, so countries must have policies that are appropriate to their own conditions. In the final part of the seminar, the speakers received dozens of questions from students on issues such as how to resolve the conflict between multiculturalism and national unity, the influence of American culture on Canadian culture, how to manage a group with people from different cultures, and what policies should be implemented to mitigate the negative aspects of globalization.
Following the seminar, performances by 20 student volunteers from Canada and Vietnam created a vibrant, lively, and engaging atmosphere in the auditorium, enriching the content presented by the speakers and vividly demonstrating the friendship between Vietnam and Canada. On this occasion, Governor-General David Johnston also awarded medals to Ms. Nguyen Thi Hoi, former Vietnamese Ambassador to Canada, and Associate Professor Pham Quang Minh, Head of the Department of International Studies, University of Social Sciences and Humanities, for their contributions to the friendship and cooperation between the two countries and their efforts to promote research and teaching about Canada in Vietnam.
