Published:  00:00 Friday - July 09, 2010

Poland is to share the US$37,000 cost of preserving a stele engraved with King Tu Duc’s teachings that sits in front of the old national university in Hue City. 

Under an agreement recently signed by the Polish Embassy and the Centre for Conservation of Former Imperial Hue City Relics, Poland will donate US$178,000 and the centre will provide the rest.

Hue’s National University in the central coastal province of Thua Thien-Hue was founded in August, 1803, under the reign of King Gia Long. The original university was located 5 km west of Hue City and was one of the 20 renowned beauty spots of the former capital city.

During a visit to the university in 1854, King Tu Duc worte a poem, encouraging students to focus on education, which was later engraved on a big stele erected on the university’s campus.

In 1908, under the reign of King Duy Tan, the university was relocated to the inner city and the stele was moved in front of the university’s gate.

Over the years the stele has suffered some serious damage.

Polish Ambassador Roman Iwaszjiewics says the donation to the stele’s upgrade is the beginning of a programme of cooperation between Poland and Thua Thien-Hue province.

The programme will provide aid for projects, not only in culture but also in other areas that Poland is strong in such as mining, agriculture, shipbuilding, education, and tourism.

Poland is a world leader in the preservation and restoration of historical sites. Since the late 20^th century, it has helped Vietnam, restore many major historical sites, such as The Mieu-a temple dedicated to the Nguyen Kings in Hue, and ancient towers in My Son, Quang Nam province.