Ninh Binh province preserves and passes on heritage to future generations, connecting heritages around the world to join hands to protect the green earth and a peaceful and prosperous world.

Dear Comrade Tran Luu Quang, Member of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Vietnam, Deputy Prime Minister of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam!

Distinguished leaders and former leaders of the Party, State, and Vietnam Fatherland Front !

Dear Ms. Simona Mirela Miculescu, President of the General Assembly of the United Nations Educational , Scientific and Cultural Organization!

Distinguished international guests, esteemed delegates!

Ladies and gentlemen, citizens and visitors!

Today, in the historical land of the ancient capital, within the space of the Trang An Scenic Landscape Complex, a World Cultural and Natural Heritage site that marks a long journey through the history of humanity and the Vietnamese nation, Ninh Binh province, in coordination with the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and the Vietnam National UNESCO Committee, solemnly organizes the ceremony commemorating the 10th anniversary of the Trang An Scenic Landscape Complex being inscribed as a World Cultural and Natural Heritage site by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).

On behalf of the Party Committee, Government, and People of Ninh Binh province, I warmly welcome and respectfully extend my best wishes for health, happiness, and success to Comrade Tran Luu Quang, Member of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Vietnam, Deputy Prime Minister of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam; the leaders and former leaders of the Party, State, and Vietnam Fatherland Front; the Chairperson of the UNESCO General Assembly; distinguished guests; and all the people and tourists.

Distinguished leaders and former leaders of the Party and State!

Distinguished delegates, honored guests, and all citizens and tourists!

Ninh Binh province is proud to have many unique scenic spots and historical-cultural relics. Following the leadership and guidance of the Central Party, Government, and National Assembly, especially the close attention, leadership, and guidance of Party and State leaders of all periods and central agencies; since 2001, the Party Committee, Government, and people of Ninh Binh province have implemented an economic model shifting from "brown" to "green," focusing on developing tourism and services based on preserving and promoting cultural-historical, natural-ecological values. Having early recognized the potential and value, they focused on researching and building dossiers for submission, so that on June 25, 2014, the Trang An Scenic Landscape Complex was inscribed by UNESCO as a World Cultural and Natural Heritage Site, with outstanding global values regarding: (1) Geological and geomorphological evolution process representing the formation and construction of the Earth's crust; (2) The aesthetics of the natural landscape have existed for millions of years; (3) The continuous settlement and adaptation process of humans over 30,000 years of history . It has become the first and only "dual" heritage site to date of Vietnam and the Southeast Asian region.

Immediately after Trang An became a World Heritage Site, the Ninh Binh Provincial Party Committee, People's Council, and People's Committee focused on implementing a comprehensive master plan, issuing numerous policies, and implementing synchronized solutions in the management, preservation, and promotion of the heritage's value based on the provisions of the 1972 Convention on the Protection of Cultural and Natural Heritage and Vietnamese law; implementing a development model that harmoniously integrates heritage restoration, preservation, and green, sustainable growth; with an emphasis on developing the role and central position of the people, mobilizing the participation of the entire society in preserving and promoting heritage values.

Therefore, after 10 years of being recognized as a World Heritage Site, the Trang An Scenic Landscape Complex is considered by many organizations, experts, and scientists as an exemplary model of successfully combining economic development and sustainable tourism while respecting nature, ensuring a harmonious balance of interests among the people, the State, and businesses; and effectively promoting public-private partnerships.

The Trang An Heritage Site, like a "precious gem," has become the heart, maintaining the heartbeat and reviving the source of the past, preserving and refining the valuable natural, cultural, and humanistic values. These heritage values are strongly promoted, becoming an invaluable resource with powerful appeal, an endogenous resource and an important driving force for Ninh Binh's development during the period of innovation, integration, and international development; integrating Ninh Binh into the network of UNESCO-certified heritage sites; and simultaneously playing a core, central role in shaping the province's urban system towards a heritage city; promoting the socio-economic development of Ninh Binh province in accordance with the orientation of: "Rapid, Sustainable, and Harmonious" development, with economic growth always linked to socio-cultural development, ensuring social equity and progress, and protecting the ecological environment; and developing green, clean, and environmentally friendly industries. Developing organic, circular, and multi-value agriculture; promoting high-quality ecotourism linked to cultural, historical, and natural values, especially the fine traditions of the people and land of the ancient capital of Hoa Lu, and the outstanding global value of the Trang An Scenic Landscape Complex. From there, Ninh Binh will experience breakthrough development, becoming a comprehensively developed locality, achieving budget self-sufficiency from 2022, ranking 12th out of 63 provinces and cities nationwide in per capita income; and becoming an attractive destination for tourists and investors.

At this solemn celebration, allow me, on behalf of the Party Committee, Government, and People of Ninh Binh province, to express our profound gratitude to the Central Party Committee, the Government, the National Assembly; the leaders and former leaders of the Party, State, and Vietnam Fatherland Front; the Committees, Ministries, branches, and organizations at the central level; the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization; and domestic and international organizations, experts, and scientists who have shown concern, provided assistance, and accompanied Ninh Binh province in the process of managing, preserving, and promoting the value of the Heritage, as well as developing the local economy and society throughout the past periods.

Distinguished leaders and former leaders of the Party and State!

Distinguished delegates, honored guests, and all citizens and tourists!

The road ahead presents Ninh Binh province with many opportunities and advantages, but also numerous challenges in the management, preservation, and promotion of heritage values in conjunction with economic and social development, and ensuring national defense and security. With the highest determination, the Party Committee, Government, and people of Ninh Binh province will continue to build upon the achievements already made, leverage internal strengths and the tradition of solidarity, overcome difficulties with a proactive and creative spirit to preserve and pass on this invaluable heritage to future generations, connect heritage sites globally to jointly protect a green earth and a peaceful and prosperous world; build Ninh Binh province into a Millennium Heritage City directly under the Central Government, a national and international center for tourism, cultural industry, and heritage economy; one of the leading localities in Vietnam to bring greenhouse gas emissions to "zero", a model for innovative entrepreneurship; and possess a high position and brand value within the network of UNESCO-certified heritage sites. A prosperous society, happy people.

Ninh Binh province also hopes that the practical experiences gained at the Trang An Scenic Landscape Complex will be summarized, shared, and disseminated more widely in Vietnam and other countries around the world by central agencies and UNESCO.

Once again, I would like to express my sincere gratitude and best wishes to Comrade Tran Luu Quang, Member of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Vietnam, Deputy Prime Minister of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam; the leaders and former leaders of the Party and State; the Chairperson of the General Assembly of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization; the delegates, distinguished guests, and all the people and tourists for good health, happiness, and success!

Thank you very much!

(*) Title provided by Ninh Binh Newspaper

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