Protecting and promoting the value of World Heritage: Promoting the role and value of world cultural and natural heritage in sustainable development strategies

The workshop took place under the chairmanship of Mr. Hoang Dao Cuong, Deputy Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism, Vice Chairman of the Vietnam National Commission for UNESCO; Mr. Lazare Eloundou Assomo, Director of the World Heritage Center.

The workshop was attended by representatives of the UNESCO Hanoi Office, leaders of central ministries, People's Committees of localities owning heritage, world heritage management boards in Vietnam, experts, scientists in the fields of History, Archaeology, Conservation, Museums, Heritage...

Deputy Minister Hoang Dao Cuong speaks at the workshop

The international scientific conference "Protecting and promoting the values ​​of World Heritage: Community-based approach for sustainable development" is considered one of the important events in the series of activities to implement the Action Plan for the period 2021 - 2025 of the Vietnam National Commission for UNESCO, the Memorandum of Understanding on Vietnam - UNESCO Cooperation for the period 2021 - 2025, the Cultural Diplomacy Strategy to 2030 and the conclusions of the National Cultural Conference emphasizing the role of culture in serving local socio-economic development will take place in the coming time.

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  Deputy Minister Hoang Dao Cuong received and worked with the Director of the World Heritage Center.

In addition, the Workshop also aims to evaluate the overall work of preserving and promoting the values ​​of world cultural and natural heritage in Vietnam, the contribution of world heritage to local socio-economic development, especially community outreach.

Through the Workshop, it will contribute to enhancing and promoting the role and value of world cultural and natural heritage in the sustainable development strategy, while expanding the participation of stakeholders in cultural and natural heritage such as non-governmental organizations, businesses, communities and strengthening the commitment of the Vietnam National Committee for UNESCO and UNESCO in accompanying local authorities and supporting heritage management units in preserving and promoting the value of world heritage in Vietnam.

This is also an opportunity to strongly demonstrate Vietnam's commitment to UNESCO in seriously implementing the World Heritage Convention and expressing the desire to contribute to the conservation of world heritage through candidacy for membership of the World Heritage Committee for the 2023-2027 term. From there, further promoting the exchange and learning of experiences of those working in research, conservation and promotion of heritage domestically and internationally. The results of the discussion will be the scientific basis for world heritage sites to propose community approaches for the sustainable development of heritage.

Overview of the Workshop

In his opening speech, Deputy Minister Hoang Dao Cuong affirmed that the International Workshop "Protecting and promoting world heritage values: Community-based approach for sustainable development" was held, not only with profound theoretical and practical significance, but also a strong message from Vietnam about the responsibility to preserve precious values ​​of humanity.

Notably, the Workshop took place just one day after a cordial meeting between General Secretary To Lam and the Director of the UNESCO World Heritage Center, in which the General Secretary emphasized that Hanoi is not only a city of tradition but is also striving to become a civilized and modern capital - a thousand-year-old Thang Long converging the past and the future.

The Deputy Minister emphasized that in the digital age, the preservation and promotion of heritage must be associated with innovation: applying digital technology, leveraging the power of social media, developing public-private partnership (PPP) models to spread heritage values ​​to the public, especially the young generation. In particular, the central role of the community in managing and preserving heritage - not only as beneficiaries but also as creative subjects.

Deputy Minister Hoang Dao Cuong and Director of the World Heritage Center Lazare Eloundou Assomo co-chaired the Workshop.

"This workshop is a very correct, timely and practical orientation, and at the same time contributes to the implementation of important contents of international conferences such as the Future Summit, commitments at the recent P4G Conference - where Vietnam demonstrated its responsible and active role in promoting multilateral cooperation for a green and sustainable future. At the P4G Vietnam Summit 2025, General Secretary To Lam emphasized that Vietnam is making strong efforts to transform political commitments into practical actions, creating motivation for businesses and the whole society to participate in green economic development. In which, green institutions are the decisive foundation, green technology is the breakthrough driving force, and green human resources play a key role" - Deputy Minister Hoang Dao Cuong said.

The Deputy Minister suggested that the Workshop focus on discussing 6 main issues, focusing on the contents of proposing a strong enough legal mechanism and policy to ensure the community; Equipping knowledge and skills for the community; Enhancing indigenous knowledge and community culture to be integrated substantially into socio-economic development plans and strategies; Proposing an effective co-management model, in which the local community truly becomes the central subject; Creativity in management, especially the strong application of digital technology and smart platforms; International cooperation.

At the workshop, delegates shared experiences from the perspective of state management and heritage ownership in promoting the value of world heritage to serve local socio-economic development and improve people's lives. Along with that, Director of the World Heritage Center Lazare Eloundou Assomo answered some questions raised by delegates, provided professional advice on the protection and promotion of world heritage values ​​in a community-based approach and shared some international experiences.

The workshop drew a number of recommendations and proposals for heritage management in the coming time, including: Continuing to improve the legal basis in heritage management; Propagating, further raising awareness and role, participation of the community because they are the owners of heritage; Strengthening environmental protection, sustainable use of resources, sustainable tourism development; Promoting international cooperation in preserving and promoting heritage values; Training to improve the capacity of heritage management staff and applying information technology, digital transformation in the management, preservation and promotion of heritage values.

Concluding the workshop, Deputy Minister Hoang Dao Cuong affirmed that the workshop had achieved success. The opinions contributed at the workshop will be data to absorb and adjust in the process of preserving and promoting heritage values.

The Deputy Minister emphasized that Vietnam's success as a UNESCO member in recent times has been demonstrated through its activeness and proactiveness in amending and supplementing the Heritage Law and promptly issuing policies. At the same time, the visits of General Secretary To Lam and the Prime Minister to UNESCO headquarters have affirmed Vietnam's determination to preserve and promote the value of its heritage.

Deputy Minister Hoang Dao Cuong also stated that the important factor in preserving and promoting heritage values ​​is community outreach: "Community participation contributes to success and is one of the priority factors, organically linked to the work of preserving and promoting heritage values. Therefore, it is necessary to demonstrate in action, implementing specific plans".

The Deputy Minister expressed his hope that in the coming time, heritage sites will take turns organizing exchange conferences to most closely assess the characteristics and features of each community, thereby proposing the most appropriate solutions for heritage conservation.

Source: https://bvhttdl.gov.vn/bao-ve-va-phat-huy-gia-tri-di-san-the-gioi-day-manh-vai-tro-gia-tri-di-san-van-hoa-va-thien-nhien-the-gioi-trong-chien-luoc-phat-trien-ben-vung-20250521110845112.htm