Ho Chi Minh City and Son La City were recognized by UNESCO as members of the 'Global Network of Learning Cities'.

NDO - On February 14, the United Nations Educational , Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) solemnly held a ceremony to announce the list of 64 cities from 35 countries recognized as members of the "Global Network of Learning Cities", including two cities in Vietnam: Ho Chi Minh City and Son La City in Son La Province.

Downtown District 1, Ho Chi Minh City on the banks of the Saigon River. Photo: Thanh Vu.

Ambassador Nguyen Thi Van Anh, Permanent Representative of Vietnam to UNESCO, shared: This is good news at the beginning of the year of the Dragon for Vietnam, not only a source of pride but also international recognition of the outstanding efforts of cities in the process of promoting lifelong learning for all local people. This is a concrete step in implementing the guidelines, policies and strategies of our Party and State on international integration, encouraging learning, encouraging talents, building a learning society, improving the quality of education and human resources. For his part, Mr. Dao Quyen Truong, Deputy Director of the Department of Cultural Diplomacy and UNESCO - Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Secretary of the Vietnam National Commission for UNESCO, assessed that this was the result of implementing the Cultural Diplomacy Strategy to 2030, thereby contributing to the successful implementation of the Resolution of the 13th National Congress of the Party, Resolution 22 of the Politburo on international integration and Directive 25 of the Secretariat on promoting and elevating multilateral diplomacy to 2030. This is also the result of the determination, efforts and close coordination over the past time of the People's Committee of Ho Chi Minh City and the People's Committee of Son La province with the Vietnam National Commission for UNESCO, the Department of Cultural Diplomacy and UNESCO - Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Permanent Delegation of Vietnam to UNESCO, Vietnamese and international experts and scientists as well as the important contributions of local people.

Son La City. Photo: Son La Newspaper.

Previously, in 2020, Sa Dec city, Dong Thap province and Vinh city, Nghe An province were honored to be recognized as members of this Network and in 2022, Vietnam added Cao Lanh city, Dong Thap province to be recognized as a member of the Network. Thus, to date, Vietnam has a total of 5 cities recognized as members of the "Global Network of Learning Cities". To be recognized as members of the "Global Network of Learning Cities", cities must commit to creating conditions for lifelong learning for all citizens. The application review process is conducted very closely by UNESCO, by leading independent experts in education based on 42 criteria related to building a lifelong learning city. Participating in the “Global Learning Cities Network” will help cities and local people have more favorable conditions to exchange ideas, knowledge and experiences through a dynamic network of 356 cities worldwide . Cities also receive technical support throughout the process of building learning cities, and are nominated for the UNESCO Learning City Award. These bring great opportunities for cities to strengthen international cooperation, promote partnerships and their own networks to promote lifelong learning of people, enhance international prestige, increase the ability to attract investment..., thereby making practical contributions to the sustainable development of cities in particular and the country in general.

TRIUMPH - MINH DUY

Nhan Dan Newspaper reporter based in France

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