UNESCO to support Vietnam in heritage preservation, socio-cultural development

THE HANOI TIMES — UNESCO Director-General Audrey Azoulay on June 27 pledged to further support Vietnam in preserving its world heritage sites, promoting cultural values, and developing cultural industries.

Audrey made the statement at her meeting with General Secretary To Lam, marking her second visit to Vietnam since September 2022.

She praised Vietnam's efforts to balance modernization with preserving its rich cultural, historical, and traditional values.

The director-general said that through this, Vietnam creates a unique national identity and enduring appeal on the global stage.

She highlighted the international recognition that Vietnam has received through UNESCO’s inscription of several heritage sites, including the recent addition of the Lang Son Global Geopark, as well as its designations as a Creative City and a Learning City.

These achievements reflect the global community’s appreciation of Vietnam’s cultural heritage and developmental progress.

Audrey expressed UNESCO’s deep respect for Vietnam’s efforts and commitments to enriching global civilization and contributing to international cooperation.

She added that Vietnam is among UNESCO’s most active member states and that bilateral relations are currently at their best.

The director-general welcomed Vietnam’s strong engagement and called for further contributions to UNESCO initiatives and broader global causes, saying  that Vietnam’s key roles within UNESCO demonstrate the organization and its member states’ trust and confidence in the country’s contributions and commended Vietnam’s recent socioeconomic achievements, describing the country as a model for others.

She applauded the vision and leadership of Vietnam’s Communist Party and government in driving major institutional reforms and fostering education, culture, science, technology, innovation, and digital transformation as key drivers of national development.

Notable policies include providing free tuition for all public school students starting in 2025, national strategies for digital transformation and artificial intelligence, and efforts to engage the private sector in UNESCO activities.

General Secretary To Lam appreciated the effective and substantive discussions held during his October 2024 visit to the UNESCO Headquarters.

He thanked UNESCO and the director-general for their support of Vietnam over the years and added  that high-level visits and exchanges between the two sides have elevated the Vietnam-UNESCO partnership to new heights.

According to Lam, the 72 UNESCO-recognized heritage sites are valuable resources for Vietnam's sustainable socioeconomic development, improving livelihoods, and preserving cultural and historical values.

The Party chief called on UNESCO to further support Vietnam in preparing key heritage nomination dossiers, including those for the Thang Long Imperial Citadel and the Yen Tu-Vinh Nghiem-Con Son-Kiep Bac Complex. The goal is to achieve World Heritage recognition for these sites in July 2025.

He also requested assistance with other 2025 nominations, including Dong Ho folk painting as Intangible Cultural Heritage in Need of Urgent Safeguarding, Ho Chi Minh City’s candidacy for the UNESCO Creative Cities Network, and Hanoi’s participation in the Global Network of Learning Cities.

The general secretary urged UNESCO to continue supporting Vietnam’s development and integration efforts, particularly in education, science, culture, and communication, and to provide further policy advice, experience sharing, and resources to help the country achieve its development goals. He also called for collaboration in promoting shared human values and cultural heritage that align with the interests of both UNESCO and Vietnam.

To Lam stated that Vietnam is entering a new era of development and aims to become a high-income developed country by 2045 and that Vietnam is committed to deepening international integration and contributing actively to global peace, stability, and sustainable development.

The general secretary pledged that Vietnam takes multilateral cooperation seriously and is committed to playing an active, responsible role in UNESCO’s key governance bodies and broader mission.

Vietnam supports UNESCO’s vision, including its 2022–2029 Medium-term Strategy, the organization’s transformation agenda, and new priority areas such as artificial intelligence.

“Over the past 80 years, UNESCO has proven itself to be the ‘intellectual home of humanity’ and a builder of peace in the minds of people,” he said.

"The organization plays a vital role in shaping global governance, promoting multilateralism, and ensuring peace, security, and sustainable development — especially in today's increasingly complex and volatile world," he said.