Cultural initiatives at UNESCO bear Vietnamese imprint
Based on the recommendation of the UNESCO Executive Board, on November 8, at the 43rd session of the UNESCO General Conference in Samarkand (Uzbekistan), countries unanimously approved the draft Resolution proposed by Vietnam with co-authors and the support of 71 countries. The main content of the Resolution recommends that the United Nations General Assembly consider launching the "International Decade of Culture for Sustainable Development" as soon as possible, prioritizing the period 2027 - 2036.
The Resolution emphasizes the key role of culture as the foundation of identity, a resource for innovation, a pillar of sustainable development and response to the challenges of the times.
On that basis, the Resolution calls on the United Nations to launch an International Decade to create a fundamental change in awareness of the role of culture and promote actions at all levels to mobilize resources, increase investment in heritage education, cultural and artistic education, cultural industries and creative economy associated with sustainable livelihoods, enhance equal access to culture, intercultural dialogue, digital culture, application of cultural knowledge in climate change adaptation, environmental protection... towards a sustainable and prosperous future for all people.
Speaking at the introduction of the draft Resolution, Head of the Permanent Delegation of Vietnam to UNESCO, Ambassador Nguyen Thi Van Anh emphasized that the goal of this initiative is to further promote the extremely important role of culture to contribute to sustainable development in each country as well as globally, while responding to the complex challenges of the times through specific activities to raise awareness, strengthen political will, mobilize resources, increase investment in cultural and creative industries, promote action at all levels to thereby contribute to ensuring a safe and prosperous future for all.
The initiative “International Decade of Culture for Sustainable Development” was highly appreciated by the Director-General of UNESCO as well as member countries, as it is consistent with the organization’s strategy and current common concerns. UNESCO is actively promoting the integration of culture into development policies after 2030, creating favorable conditions for Vietnam to propose the initiative.
After the Resolution was adopted, Mr. Ernesto R. Ottone - Assistant Director General of UNESCO expressed his joy at seeing member countries widely supporting Vietnam's initiative. He said that if approved by the United Nations, this initiative will facilitate the continued promotion of cultural integration into the development agenda of the world's largest multilateral organization in the post-2030 period.
Previously, the Vietnamese delegation led by Party Central Committee member and Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Van Hung attended the World Conference on Cultural Policy and Sustainable Development (MONDIACULT 2025) organized by UNESCO in collaboration with the Spanish Government from September 29 to October 1, 2025 in Barcelona (Spain). The conference brought together Ministers/Heads of Delegations from 163 countries and 90 international organizations, 100 non-governmental organizations and 2,500 delegates including experts, scientists, cultural practitioners, artists, media reporters, etc.
In an important speech at the International Forum on Cultural Rights and Cultural Economy, Minister Nguyen Van Hung proposed Vietnam's initiative on implementing the Decade of Culture for Sustainable Development, focusing on implementing important cultural priorities and contents that have been, are and will be of interest and concern to the international community; recommending that the international community pay attention to implementing them in the coming time, contributing to ensuring an increasingly peaceful, stable and prosperous world.
Vietnam's first cultural initiative of international stature
Deputy Foreign Minister Ngo Le Van emphasized that this is the first initiative of the largest scale that we have initiated at UNESCO since many years of participating in the Organization.
Nearly 40 years after the International Decade for Cultural Development 1988-1997, this is the first time UNESCO has agreed to launch a new International Decade associated with culture. The initiative was highly appreciated by the Director-General of UNESCO as well as member countries because it is consistent with UNESCO's strategy and current common concerns, promoting UNESCO's pioneering role in making culture an independent pillar contributing to sustainable development in each country and globally, a driving force for maintaining peace, promoting creative industries, protecting cultural diversity and inclusive economic growth, and social cohesion.
“In the coming time, we and the co-sponsoring countries will continue to submit the Resolution to the United Nations General Assembly for consideration and official approval, so that the International Decade of Culture for Sustainable Development for the period 2027-2036 can be soon launched. UNESCO will be the organization in charge of implementation, coordinating with other relevant organizations in the United Nations system and other partners,” Deputy Minister Ngo Le Van emphasized.
Deputy Minister Ngo Le Van affirmed that the initiative is a concrete step contributing to implementing the Party and State's guidelines and policies on valuing culture, cultural diplomacy and international integration in the new situation.
Accordingly, it emphasizes that culture is the foundation, resource, endogenous strength and a great driving force, a regulatory system for sustainable social development, promoting the revival and development of Vietnamese culture in the new era, focusing on promoting and elevating cultural diplomacy, internationalizing culture imbued with Vietnamese national identity and nationalizing world civilization into Vietnam, contributing to human civilization.
The initiative was proposed and implemented on the solid foundation of Vietnam's foreign policy of independence, self-reliance, multilateralization and diversification, demonstrating Vietnam's proactive, positive thinking and deep integration for the common interests of the international community.
The initiative is an important contribution demonstrating Vietnam's core and leading role in shaping global development priorities in the spirit of Resolution 59-NQ/TW - Vietnam is an active and responsible partner, proactively contributing, participating in building, shaping, and ready to responsibly contribute to the common work of the international community.
“This is the first initiative of the largest scale that we have initiated at UNESCO since many years of joining the Organization. If approved by the United Nations, this will not only be our strategic contribution to UNESCO, affirming UNESCO's leading role in the cultural field, but also an initiative bearing the mark of Vietnam at the global level, demonstrating our efforts and commitment to join hands with the international community to create a peaceful, prosperous and humane future,” Deputy Minister Ngo Le Van emphasized.
Source: https://baovanhoa.vn/van-hoa/dai-hoi-dong-unesco-thong-qua-sang-kien-thap-ky-quoc-te-ve-van-hoa-vi-phat-trien-ben-vung-do-viet-nam-de-xuat-180302.html
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