International scientific conference Promoting the role of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage value of Trang An Scenic Landscape Complex in building a Millennium Heritage City and connecting world heritage cities

On the morning of April 27th, the Ninh Binh Provincial People's Committee, in coordination with the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and the Vietnam National UNESCO Committee, organized an international scientific conference titled "Promoting the Role and Value of the Trang An Scenic Landscape Complex World Cultural and Natural Heritage Site in Building a Millennium Heritage City and Connecting World Heritage Cities." The conference aimed to honor the values of the heritage site, assess outstanding achievements over the past 10 years, and determine the role, position, and importance of the heritage site in Ninh Binh province's future strategic orientations. These orientations focus on building Ninh Binh into a centrally-governed city with the characteristics of a Millennium Heritage City and connecting it with World Heritage cities based on the pillars of tourism, cultural industries, and heritage economy , harmoniously combining heritage restoration, preservation, promotion, and green growth, towards sustainable development.

Attending the workshop were: Mr. Hoang Dao Cuong, Deputy Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism; Mr. Pham Thanh Binh, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs ; Ms. Le Thi Hong Van, Secretary General of the Vietnam National UNESCO Committee; and Mr. Ha Van Sieu, Deputy Director General of the Vietnam National Tourism Administration.

Representing the United Nations Educational , Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) were Mr. Jonathan Wallace Baker, Head of the UNESCO Office in Vietnam; representatives from the UNESCO World Heritage Centre; the UNESCO Hanoi Office; and domestic and international experts and scientists.

International Scientific Workshop: Promoting the Role and Value of the Trang An Scenic Landscape Complex World Cultural and Natural Heritage Site in Building Millennium Heritage Cities and Connecting World Heritage Cities — Delegates attending the Conference.

Representing Ninh Binh province were: Mr. Mai Van Tuat, Standing Deputy Secretary of the Provincial Party Committee and Chairman of the Provincial People's Council; Mr. Pham Quang Ngoc, Deputy Secretary of the Provincial Party Committee and Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee - Head of the Organizing Committee for the 10th anniversary of the Trang An Scenic Landscape Complex being recognized by UNESCO as a World Cultural and Natural Heritage Site; Mr. Tong Quang Thin, Member of the Standing Committee of the Provincial Party Committee and Standing Vice Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee; Mr. Tran Song Tung, Member of the Standing Committee of the Provincial Party Committee and Vice Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee; Mr. Bui Hoang Ha, Member of the Standing Committee of the Provincial Party Committee and Vice Chairman of the Provincial People's Council; members of the Organizing Committee for the 10th anniversary of the Trang An Scenic Landscape Complex being recognized by UNESCO as a World Cultural and Natural Heritage Site; and leaders of departments, agencies, and localities.

In his opening remarks and introductory speech at the workshop, Comrade Pham Quang Ngoc, Deputy Secretary of the Provincial Party Committee, Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee, and Head of the Organizing Committee for the 10th anniversary of the Trang An Scenic Landscape Complex being inscribed by UNESCO as a World Cultural and Natural Heritage Site, emphasized: Ninh Binh - a land blessed with many unique scenic spots and natural wonders. This place, marked by events from tens of thousands of years ago, was chosen by our ancestors as a place of residence, adapting flexibly to environmental changes to create a unique prehistoric and early historical culture, which served as the foundation for Hoa Lu Ancient Capital to be chosen as the capital of the Dai Co Viet State.

For 42 years (968-1010), Hoa Lu existed and was closely associated with three dynasties: Dinh, Early Le, and Ly. It truly served as the political, economic, and cultural center of the unified, independent, and self-governing Dai Co Viet... playing the role of a solid military fortress built by nature and man, thus creating a driving force to attract people from many regions to live there. Hoa Lu is also the name of the capital city - the first imperial capital of the Dai Viet nation, a city and port city nestled against the mountains, overlooking the river, opening up to the East Sea, pioneering and laying the foundation for the development of Dai Viet civilization.

The outstanding values of the Hoa Lu - Ninh Binh region, with its rich and unique natural and human resources, represent significant potential for the development of ecotourism and cultural tourism in the province. The Trang An scenic area has also been identified as a destination for investment to become a national and international-level tourist destination in Vietnam's overall tourism development plan.

Ten years after being recognized by UNESCO as a World Cultural and Natural Heritage Site, the Trang An scenic area has become a clear example of an inevitable trend: connecting heritage tourism across provinces, regions, and even internationally, to create unique values and brands for the heritage site. What is particularly noteworthy is that Trang An has created new values to connect the local and modern aspects, the past and the future, on the foundation of effective, harmonious, and sustainable preservation of heritage values. It has become a preferred destination, a familiar place catering to a wide range of tourists, keeping pace with the general development needs of the social and economic market situation, and most importantly, always aligning with the Party and Government's policy of comprehensive cultural development and the development orientation of Ninh Binh province.

These advantages also present challenges for management, preservation, and promotion of the value of the heritage, demonstrating the responsibility of the people and the government towards the precious heritage of their ancestors. These challenges include: the responsibility of the government and the people in preserving and maintaining the "World Heritage" status, aiming to promote the development of the heritage economy… These challenges need to be addressed with specific goals and a vision outlined in the Ninh Binh Provincial Planning approved by the Prime Minister, which aims to become a centrally-governed city by 2035, characterized as a millennium heritage city and a creative city; a major center with high brand value in tourism, cultural industries, and heritage economy for the whole country and the Asia-Pacific region. Tourism – and tourism products derived from heritage – is the chosen solution to achieve this goal.

At the workshop, the Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee expressed his hope that scientists and experts from both within and outside the country would focus on discussing several key issues, including: honoring, promoting, and disseminating the values of the Trang An Scenic Landscape Complex in conjunction with sustainable tourism development, as a prerequisite for building Hoa Lu city into a Millennium Heritage City; reviewing the outstanding achievements over the past 10 years and proposing a comprehensive conservation planning orientation for the heritage site with an interdisciplinary and multidisciplinary approach – as a model heritage city; determining the role and position of the Heritage site in tourism economic development, socio-economic development; conservation and scientific research; attracting investment and tourists; and cooperation and connection with World Heritage cities. Research and propose solutions to share and disseminate more widely, both domestically and internationally, practical experiences in conservation and development from the Trang An Scenic Landscape Complex, thereby proposing appropriate policies for the Government and UNESCO...

Ninh Binh province consistently strives to honor and affirm the role and importance of the outstanding universal values of the Heritage site, and to improve the effectiveness of managing, preserving, and promoting these values; continuing to fulfill its commitments to UNESCO in the management and promotion of these values to preserve and protect the heritage for future generations.

To fully promote the scientific, cultural, and historical value of the heritage, serving sustainable development and building a Millennium Heritage City as Ninh Binh is aiming for, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Pham Thanh Binh suggested that Ninh Binh needs to continue strengthening the preservation, conservation, and promotion of the world heritage value according to UNESCO standards; enhance education and community awareness, raising awareness of the value of the Trang An World Heritage Site among the community and tourists; and strengthen cooperation with international organizations and other local partners to share heritage management experiences and learn from the successes of other destinations.

Comrade Pham Thanh Binh affirmed that in the coming time, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Vietnam National UNESCO Committee will continue to work alongside Ninh Binh to ensure that the Trang An Scenic Landscape Complex continues to be a model example of preserving and promoting heritage values, contributing to realizing the aspiration of building Ninh Binh into a Millennium Heritage City, a UNESCO Creative City, making Ninh Binh a land rich in culture, strong in economy, green and clean in environment, meeting all criteria for sustainable development.

Acknowledging and welcoming the foresight and collaborative spirit that have paved the way for Trang An's achievements, Jonathan Baker, Head of the UNESCO Office in Hanoi, stated that UNESCO remains committed to supporting Trang An in overcoming challenges. The UNESCO Office is ready to provide expertise to ensure Trang An continues to be a beacon for responsible and sustainable tourism. Trang An's current vision aligns perfectly with UNESCO's core mission of promoting cultural understanding, peace, and sustainable development through heritage conservation. Therefore, Mr. Baker believes that Trang An will continue to serve as a model of stable and responsible development for future generations.

To further clarify the content of "Promoting the role and value of the Trang An Scenic Landscape Complex World Cultural and Natural Heritage Site in building a Millennium Heritage City and connecting World Heritage Cities," following the opening session, delegates, scientists, and experts from both within and outside the country conducted three discussion sessions: a general session on "Connecting the Trang An Heritage City with UNESCO Heritage Cities" and two thematic sessions on "A Decade of Trang An World Heritage - A Journey of Creation, Preservation, and Promotion of Values" and "Comprehensive Planning for the Conservation and Promotion of the Values of the Trang An World Heritage Site Towards a Millennium Heritage City."

Song Nguyen - Minh Hai - Anh Tuan

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