Vietnam elected vice chair of key UNESCO committee

Vietnam was elected Vice-Chair of UNESCO's Intergovernmental Committee for the Safeguarding of Intangible Cultural Heritage on December 8 during the Committee's 18th session in Kasane, Botswana.

This is the second time that Vietnam has been elected to the position, after the first time in the 2006-2010 term, representing the Asia-Pacific region.
According to Ambassador Le Thi Hong Van, Permanent Representative of Vietnam to UNESCO, becoming the Vice-Chair of one of UNESCO's key committees confirms Vietnam's position and prestige in the world, shows the international community's confidence in Vietnam's ability to better contribute to UNESCO, and recognizes Vietnam's efforts in preserving and promoting culture and heritage in sustainable and inclusive development and self-reliance of countries and territories.
On November 8, Vietnam was also elected vice president of the UNESCO General Conference.

The Vietnamese delegation at the 18th session of the Intergovernmental Committee for the Safeguarding of Intangible Cultural Heritage (Photo: VNA)

The 18th session of the Intergovernmental Committee for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage was held from December 4-9, with the participation of more than 500 delegates and observers from 24 member states, as well as international and non-governmental organizations in the field of culture and arts.

Dao Quyen Truong, Deputy Director of the Department of Cultural Affairs and UNESCO of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and member of the Secretariat of the National Commission for UNESCO, said the Vietnamese delegation actively participated in all discussions.
"The Secretariat and the members of the Committee appreciated Vietnam's policies and strategies and practical measures to promote the role of intangible cultural heritage as a driving force for sustainable economic, cultural-social development, environmental protection, and biodiversity conservation," he said.
The 19th session of the Committee is scheduled to be held in Paraguay in December 2024, where the Festival of Ba Chua Xu Goddess at Sam Mountain in Vietnam is expected to be nominated as an intangible cultural heritage of humanity.

Vietnam - active and responsible member of UNESCO

Vietnam always reaffirms its role as an active and responsible member, one of the leading countries in the effective implementation of UNESCO's programs and activities.

This was said by UNESCO Director-General Audrey Azoulay when she received Ambassador Le Thi Hong Van, Permanent Representative of Vietnam to UNESCO, to bid farewell on the occasion of the end of Van's term.

Azoulay congratulated Ambassador Le Thi Hong Van on her successful tenure and highly appreciated Vietnam's practical and effective contributions to UNESCO, especially its recent assumption of important positions.

Director-General Audrey Azoulay agreed with the ideas on the direction of cooperation in the future and confirmed that UNESCO will continue to support Vietnam in preserving and promoting cultural heritage, biosphere reserves, and global geoparks in Vietnam.

UNESCO is committed to supporting Vietnam in the preservation of UNESCO-inscribed World Heritage Sites, including the Thang Long Imperial Citadel in Hanoi.

Azoulay also expressed her wish to visit Vietnam again soon to discuss concrete measures to take bilateral relations to new heights.

UNESCO has pledged to help Vietnam preserve the Thang Long Imperial Citadel in Hanoi. Photo: The Hanoi Times

Ambassador Van affirmed that Vietnam attaches great importance to cooperation with UNESCO, expected UNESCO to continue its support to Vietnam, especially by providing experiences, models, and titles.

Ambassador Le Thi Hong Van also welcomed Director-General Audrey Azoulay and UNESCO leaders to visit Vietnam soon to discuss cooperation in the new period, contributing to the development of Vietnam-UNESCO relations in the future.