Attending the conference were: Bui Thanh Son, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs ; Tran Hong Minh, Member of the Central Committee of the Party and Secretary of the Cao Bang Provincial Party Committee; Ha Kim Ngoc, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs and Chair of the Vietnam National UNESCO Committee; Nong Thi Ha, Deputy Minister and Vice Chair of the Committee for Ethnic Minorities; and Hoang Xuan Anh, Deputy Secretary of the Provincial Party Committee and Chairman of the People's Committee of Cao Bang Province.
International delegates included Ms. Lidia Brito, Assistant Director-General of UNESCO for Natural Sciences; Mr. Nickolas Zouro, President of the UNESCO Global Geoparks Network; and Mr. Jin XiaoChi, Vice President of the UNESCO Global Geoparks Network Executive Board and Coordinator for the Asia- Pacific region. Also present were over 800 domestic and international delegates.
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Chairman of the People's Committee of Cao Bang province, Hoang Xuan Anh, delivered a speech. |
Speaking at the ceremony, Mr. Hoang Xuan Anh, Chairman of the People's Committee of Cao Bang province, shared that with the theme "Local communities and sustainable development in the Geopark area" and many rich, attractive, and practical activities, this conference aims to find many useful solutions in building and developing the Global Geopark title; thereby contributing to the preservation and promotion of the value of various types of heritage towards sustainable development.
To ensure the success of the 8th conference, Comrade Hoang Xuan Anh suggested that delegates and members of the Geopark Network should focus their collective intelligence and responsibility on sharing experiences in building and developing Geoparks.
From there, we can find solutions to the global challenges facing us today, especially strengthening the role of local communities, the stakeholders of Geoparks, in conservation activities, development, and promotion of Geopark values for a sustainable community.
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Delegates attending the opening ceremony. |
Thanking Cao Bang province for the warm welcome and meticulous organization of the conference, Mr. Nickolas Zouro, President of the Global Geopark Network, emphasized that the challenges from climate change demand stronger and more specific thinking to respond to climate change and the risk of natural disasters.
This will enhance the capacity of communities to respond to climate change, creating a safer world.
Mr. Nickolas Zouro suggested that, in a spirit of understanding, friendship, and connection, the delegates attending the conference should exchange best practices and innovative approaches in preserving and promoting the value of Geoparks.
Sharing her condolences regarding the losses caused by Typhoon Yagi in the northern region and Cao Bang province in particular, Ms. Lidia Brito, Assistant Director-General of UNESCO for Natural Sciences, emphasized that the impacts of climate change spare no one, and that we need collective and sustained efforts to mitigate the effects and damage of climate change.
Emphasizing that the purpose of the Global Geopark Network is to connect and unite through commitments to heritage protection and sustainable development, Ms. Lidia Brito suggested that delegates attending the conference strengthen exchanges of knowledge and experience in protecting landscapes, heritage, and cultural identity within geopark areas and promoting sustainable development.
Speaking at the conference, Deputy Prime Minister Bui Thanh Son shared his condolences for the losses and suffering of the people in the north and Cao Bang province in particular due to Typhoon Yagi and its aftermath. He urged localities to overcome the consequences of the natural disaster and quickly stabilize the lives and production of the people.
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Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Bui Thanh Son and other delegates attended the conference. |
The Deputy Prime Minister emphasized that, in the context of facing several challenges and difficulties in achieving the United Nations' sustainable development goals, the activities of the Global Geopark Network are a "solution" to this global issue.
With that spirit in mind, Comrade Bui Thanh Son proposed that the conference discuss and clarify some new directions for cooperation, such as identifying a comprehensive approach to unify understanding and action on the conservation and promotion of geopark values for sustainable development. Specifically, delegates should discuss integrating sustainable development principles into policies for biodiversity conservation, ecosystem protection, natural environment protection, and the cultural identity of communities; and linking geopark conservation and management with sustainable development policies.
The parties within the Global Geopark Network need to promote multilateral partnerships and international cooperation to develop global geoparks in line with sustainable development.
The parties also need to promote a long-term vision of 5 years and 10 years for the development of the Global Geopark Network into a robust international cooperation network for the conservation and promotion of geological heritage not only for our benefit but also for future generations.
The Deputy Prime Minister emphasized: “I expect the Cao Bang Declaration to be an important document assessing the Network's activities over the past two decades, proposing directions for cooperation in the next decade, especially as next year will mark the 10th anniversary of UNESCO's 'Global Geopark Program' (2015-2025).”
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The booth showcases the cultural identity and products of the UNESCO Non Nuoc Cao Bang Global Geopark. |
The 8th International Conference of the UNESCO Global Geopark Network for the Asia-Pacific region included thematic workshops on the conservation and sustainable development of geoparks, as well as booths promoting products and cultural identities from geoparks.
The conference will conclude on September 15th.
![[Photo] Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh attends the Conference summarizing and implementing tasks of the judicial sector.](/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fvphoto.vietnam.vn%2Fthumb%2F1200x675%2Fvietnam%2Fresource%2FIMAGE%2F2025%2F12%2F13%2F1765616082148_dsc-5565-jpg.webp&w=3840&q=75)
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