Paris (VNA) – Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Ha Kim Ngocattended the 219th session of the UNESCO’s Executive Board in Parison March 18 and 19, during which the Vietnamese representative affirmed that Vietnamalways highly evaluates multilateral cooperation and UNESCO’s role, and pledges tocontinue to make active and positive contributions to the organisation’s common affairs.

Ngoc, who is also Chairman of the Vietnam NationalCommission for UNESCO, held that the world is now at a difficult time with manyintertwined challenges such as the climate and environmental crisis, thebooming of artificial intelligence (AI), increasing inequality, violence and armedconflicts, affecting all aspects of social life.

In that context, multilateralism and internationalcooperation based on openness, equality, and mutual benefit, as well as UNESCO'smission to promote peace through dialogue, mutual understanding, and its pioneeringrole in strengthening global cooperation in education - training, culture,heritage, science - technology, information - communication are becomingimportant than ever, he stressed.

The Vietnamese representative hailed the efforts of theUNESCO Director-General and Secretariat as well as theorganisation's members in promoting interdisciplinary and multi-sector approaches,diversifying resources, and expanding the global partnership network to furtherstrengthen the role and effectiveness of the organisation.

Ngoc proposed UNESCO and its Executive Board continueimplementing initiatives, programmes and activities to realise the SustainableDevelopment Goal (SDG) No. 4 on ensuring equitable quality education and promotelifelong learning opportunities for all, while strengthening the efficiency ofthe Global Network of Learning Cities, UNESCO Associated Schools Network and UNESCOCreative Cities Network.

Meanwhile, it is necessary to associate culture and heritagewith sustainable development, promote open science and ethics in artificialintelligence, strengthen biodiversity conservation, water security, oceangovernance and climate change response, contribute to the UN Summit of the Future(slated for September), and support member countries in implementing the SDGs,he suggested.

On this occasion, Ngoc hadworking sessions with UNESCO Director-General Audrey Azoulay, UNESCO DeputyDirector-General Xing Qu, President of the UNESCO Executive Board Vera KhouryLacoeuilhe, President of the UNESCO General Conference Simona-Mirela Miculescu,UNESCO Assistant Director-General for Priority Africa and External Relations AnthonyOhemeng-Boamah, and UNESCO Assistant Director-General for Natural Sciences LidaBrito, as well as heads of delegations from some member countries to promotebilateral and multilateral cooperation.

Ngoc also worked with Director of the UNESCO World Heritage Centre Lazare Assomo, ICOMOS World Heritage Advisory and Monitoring Unit Director Regina Durighello to discuss the enhancement of cooperation inprotecting and promoting the values of world heritages in Vietnam.

At the working sessions, the UNESCO leaders and heads ofdelegations of countries highly valued the sound cooperation between Vietnamand UNESCO and other member countries, as well as Vietnam’s important andeffective contributions to the common affairs of the organisation in its capacity as a member of fivekey management mechanisms of the organisation.

They underlined that Vietnam is a model for harmony betweenpreservation and promotion of heritages in association with promoting tourismdevelopment, economic growth and people’s livelihoods.

Ngoc expressed his hope that the UNESCO leaders and the UNESCO Secretariat provideconsultancy and support Vietnam’s new heritage dossiers such as those of theYen Tu - Con Son - Kiep Bac landscape and relic complex, Oc Eo - Ba Thearchaeological site, Con Moong cave, and intangible cultural heritages such as Festivalof Ba Chua Xu Goddess at Sam Mountain, Dong Ho folk painting art, and Lang Songlobal geopark.

Vietnam also hopes to receive support in preserving andpromoting the value of UNESCO-recognised world heritage sites, including the projectto preserve, restore and promote the value of the Imperial Citadel of ThangLong – Hanoi, Ngoc said.

The leaders of UNESCO and ICOMOS vowed to support Vietnam inbuilding and promoting heritage dossiers proposed by the Chairman of the VietnamNational Commission for UNESCO.

Ngoc also took this occasion to invite and convey invitationsto the UNESCO leaders to visit Vietnam for the celebrations of 10 years since TrangAn Landscape Complex was recognised as a World Cultural and Natural Heritage Site(April), the Festival for Peace 2024 (July), and the 8th AsiaPacific Geoparks Network Symposium (September)./.