As part of his State-level visit to Viet Nam from 18 to 21 November at the invitation of General Secretary of the Communist Party of Viet Nam Central Committee and President Nguyen Phu Trong, Indian President Ram Nath Kovind and his wife visited Da Nang on Sunday.

In the morning of Monday, the Indian President and his wife visited the Da Nang Museum of Cham Sculpture on 2 September street.

The Indian guests were accompanied by municipal People’s Committee Chairman Huynh Duc Tho, along with leaders of departments of Foreign Affairs, and Culture and Sports.

Chairman Tho (left) welcoming Indian President Kovind

According to a spokesperson for the municipal Department of Foreign Affairs, Da Nang has coordinated with the Indian Embassy in Viet Nam and the Indian Consulate General in Ho Chi Minh City in organising many cultural exchanges and arts programmes in the locality. In picture: Indian President Kovind (second, right) and Chairman Tho visiting the Museum of Cham Sculpture.

The Da Nang Museum of Cham Sculpture and the National Museum Institute of History of Art, Conservation and Museology in India have jointly entered into a Memorandum of Understanding on the compilation and publication of the catalogue entitled ‘Cham Sculpture of Viet Nam and the relationship with Indian arts, which features research into 50 sculptures belonging to the Da Nang museum’s own collection.

Currently, the city’s museum is now joining forces with the National Museum of India in studying and compiling a book introducing the relationship between the Cham sculpture and the Indian art, which will be printed in India by late this year.

President Kovind showing his keen interest in a gilt-bronze statue of Bodhisattva Tara which is the largest bronze statue of Cham arts. The statute dates back to between the late 9th and the early 10th centuries.

During his visit to the Museum, the Indian President expressed his impression on precious artifacts and heritages of Cham culture here

Writing in the guest book, the Indian leader said he was very happy and honoured at visiting the Da Nang Museum of Cham Sculpture. The Museum is now home to a rich collection of antiques of the Indian- Champa civilisation, which is considered a typical example for the cultural influence between Viet Nam and India.

He remarked he was very impressed by the Tra Kieu pedestal and Siva Linga - a masterpiece of Cham Arts. He took the opportunity to thank the Da Nang authorities and leaders of the Cham Sculpture Museum for their warm welcome and their friendliness.

The Indian government leader and his wife then paid a visit to Quang Nam Province’s My Son Sanctuary.

Afterwards, the Indian President will leave for Ha Noi to begin his state-level visit to Viet Nam.