Protecting and promoting world heritage values: Community-based approaches for sustainable development

The workshop took place under the chairmanship of Mr. Lazare Eloundou Assomo, Director of the World Heritage Center; Mr. Hoang Dao Cuong, Deputy Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism, Vice Chairman of the Vietnam National Commission for UNESCO; Ms. Le Thi Hong Van, Director of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Cultural Diplomacy , Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Secretary General of the Vietnam National Commission for UNESCO.

View of the workshop taking place at the Thang Long Imperial Citadel heritage site. (Photo: Thanh Long)

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The workshop was attended by the UNESCO Office in Hanoi, 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 and community representatives.

The workshop is an event in a 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 that will take place in the coming time.

In his opening speech, Deputy Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Hoang Dao Cuong, Vice Chairman of the Vietnam National Commission for UNESCO, said that Vietnam currently has 8 cultural and natural heritages recognized by UNESCO as world heritages; along with that, since joining the 1972 Convention, Vietnam has been elected twice as one of the 21 members of the World Heritage Committee for the 2013-2017 and 2023-2027 terms.

Vietnam has made many important strides in awareness and theory in the field of protecting and promoting the value of world heritage, demonstrated through the increasingly improved legal system on cultural heritage.

In particular, on November 23, 2024, the National Assembly passed the Law on Cultural Heritage, contributing to the full institutionalization of the Party and State's guidelines and policies on cultural heritage, with many new points, deeply affecting all aspects of the country's cultural, social and economic life, creating a fundamental shift in position and strength for the cause of managing, protecting and promoting the values ​​of Vietnam's cultural heritage.

Deputy Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Hoang Dao Cuong delivered the opening speech. (Photo: Thanh Long)

The 2024 Law on Cultural Heritage has internalized many regulations from the 1972 Convention, along with implementation guidelines and policies integrating sustainable development, creating an important legal corridor for the management, protection and promotion of the values ​​of World Heritage in Vietnam.

In recent years, the Government, ministries, sectors and localities have always paid attention to planning, developing management plans, investing and providing financial support for World Heritage sites. Heritage sites have been restored and preserved in a sustainable manner, ensuring authenticity, integrity and outstanding global value. The system of organization and human resources for heritage management from central to local levels has been increasingly strengthened; resources for heritage protection have been prioritized and mobilized effectively.

Thanks to the attention of all levels, sectors and the community, the relics and scenic spots after being recognized by UNESCO have attracted more and more tourists to visit and research.

However, Deputy Minister Hoang Dao Cuong said that there is still a lot of work to be done to further improve the effectiveness of management, protection and promotion of world heritage values ​​in Vietnam in the coming years.

Ms. Vu Thu Ha, Vice Chairwoman of Hanoi People's Committee, spoke at the event. (Photo: Thanh Long)

According to Mr. Hoang Dao Cuong, in the digital age, the preservation and promotion of heritage needs to be associated with creative innovation in applying digital technology, taking advantage of the power of social media, developing public-private partnership (PPP) models to spread the value of heritage 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.

“With that spirit, the workshop is a very correct, timely and practical orientation, at the same time contributing 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," he emphasized.

Sharing here, Ms. Vu Thu Ha, Vice Chairwoman of Hanoi People's Committee, expressed her pride when the Capital is known as a "heritage city" with an extremely rich and diverse number of heritages including 6,494 historical and cultural relics, including world-class heritages recognized by UNESCO.

The Vice Chairman of the Hanoi People's Committee affirmed: "Hanoi identifies investment in culture as investment in sustainable development, in which the protection and promotion of heritage values ​​is the responsibility of the entire political system, all levels, all sectors, the whole society and each citizen.

We look forward to receiving your comments, sharing experiences and directions for promoting heritage values, towards the goal of sustainable management of heritage sites, with a community-based approach."

Director of the World Heritage Center Lazare Eloundou Assomo shared at the workshop. (Photo: Jackie Chan)

The workshop aims to provide an overview of the conservation and promotion of the values ​​of World Cultural and Natural Heritages in Vietnam, and to clarify the contribution of World Heritages to local socio-economic development, especially from the perspective of community outreach. The event also aims to enhance the role and value of Heritage in sustainable development strategies; promote the participation of stakeholders such as non-governmental organizations, businesses, and communities; and strengthen the commitment of the Vietnam National Commission for UNESCO and UNESCO in supporting local authorities and heritage management units in the conservation and promotion of World Heritage values.

This is also an opportunity to demonstrate Vietnam's strong commitment to UNESCO in implementing the World Heritage Convention; expressing the desire to actively contribute to global conservation through candidacy for the World Heritage Committee for the 2023-2027 term. The workshop is also a forum for exchanging and sharing experiences between domestic and foreign experts and researchers, and at the same time, a scientific basis for heritage sites to develop community outreach plans, towards sustainable development.

Mr. Jonathan Wallace Baker, Chief Representative of UNESCO Office in Hanoi, highly appreciated the results that Hanoi city has achieved in recent times in preserving and promoting the value of heritage. (Photo: Thanh Long)

Here, 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.

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.

Delegates attending the conference took a souvenir photo. (Photo: Thanh Long)

The workshop drew a number of recommendations and proposals for heritage management: Continue to improve the legal basis in heritage management; promote and further raise awareness, role and participation of the community; strengthen environmental protection, sustainable use of resources, sustainable tourism development; promote international cooperation in preserving and promoting heritage values; train and improve the capacity of heritage management staff and apply information technology and digital transformation in the management, preservation and promotion of heritage values.

In his concluding remarks, Deputy Minister Hoang Dao Cuong highly appreciated the initiative to organize this international conference, and believed that the shared and suggested experiences would be valuable directions for the Ministry and localities to continue researching and applying to the practice of world heritage management in the coming time.

Source: https://baoquocte.vn/bao-ve-va-phat-huy-gia-tri-di-san-the-gioi-tiep-can-dua-vao-cong-dong-vi-su-phat-trien-ben-vung-315022.html