UNESCO Representative: Vietnam will continue to be a voice of peace and innovation.

The Head of UNESCO's Representative Office in Vietnam gave an interview to a VNA reporter on the occasion of Vietnam being elected to this position for the second consecutive time at two sessions of the UNESCO General Assembly.

At the 43rd Session of the General Assembly of the United Nations Educational , Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) held in Samarkand (Uzbekistan), Vietnam was re-elected as Vice President of the Session by the member states.

This is the second consecutive time that Vietnam has been entrusted with this position at two sessions of the UNESCO General Assembly.

Also at this session, the UNESCO General Assembly adopted a Resolution proposing that the United Nations consider launching an International Decade for Culture for Sustainable Development, based on Vietnam's initiative, with co-sponsorship from 71 countries.

On this occasion, Mr. Jonathan Wallace Baker, Head of UNESCO's Representative Office in Vietnam, gave an interview to a VNA reporter:

- How do you assess the significance of Vietnam being re-elected as Vice-President of the 43rd UNESCO General Assembly by member states, especially in the context of UNESCO implementing numerous reform programs aimed at sustainable development?

Jonathan Wallace Baker: The re-election of Vietnam as Vice-President of the 43rd Session of the General Assembly by the member states is a strong affirmation of UNESCO member states' confidence in Vietnam's constructive diplomacy and consensus-building approach.

Being entrusted with this responsibility for two consecutive terms clearly reflects Vietnam's growing position, prestige, and credibility as a multilateral partner. It also demonstrates the international community's recognition of Vietnam's impressive development achievements and its increasingly proactive and substantive participation in UNESCO and other international cooperation forums.

Taking place at a time when UNESCO is consolidating its global leadership role in education, culture, science , and information and communication, this event provides an opportunity for Vietnam to continue promoting best practices in connecting education, science, culture, and sustainable development, thereby making a practical contribution to the common effort and supporting the transformation of global priorities into concrete results in Vietnam and other countries.

Vietnam's election also further affirms its image as a bridge between developing countries and the international community.

The Vietnamese delegation attends the 43rd session of the UNESCO General Assembly. (Photo: VNA)

- Also at the 43rd session of the UNESCO General Assembly, the General Assembly adopted a resolution proposing that the United Nations consider launching an International Decade for Culture for Sustainable Development, based on Vietnam's initiative. How do you assess the significance of the UNESCO General Assembly adopting a resolution on an International Decade for Culture for the first time in nearly 40 years?

Mr. Jonathan Wallace Baker: UNESCO highly appreciates the adoption by the 43rd UNESCO General Assembly of the draft Resolution proposed by Vietnam on the “International Decade for Culture for Sustainable Development.”

This initiative has received strong support from member states and aligns with UNESCO's strategic direction on promoting the role of culture in sustainable development.

The initiative emphasizes the crucial role of culture in contributing to addressing global challenges, raising awareness, strengthening political commitment, mobilizing resources, and promoting investment in cultural and creative industries.

The adoption of the draft Resolution also reflects Vietnam's proactive and responsible contributions to UNESCO in recent years. The UNESCO Office in Hanoi will continue to work closely with Vietnam in promoting the role of culture as an independent pillar of sustainable development.

- In your opinion, what role and contributions has Vietnam made to UNESCO's activities in recent years, particularly in the fields of education, science, and culture?

Jonathan Wallace Baker: Vietnam is a dynamic and responsible member state, making practical contributions across all areas of UNESCO's activities.

In education, Vietnam demonstrates its leadership role through robust reforms and a long-term vision aligned with the 2030 Education Agenda. Resolution 71-NQ/TW sets goals such as universal preschool and secondary education by 2030, and the establishment of world-class universities by 2045, along with a commitment to allocating 20% ​​of the state budget to education. The new Law on Teachers and initiatives such as the Happy School model and participation in the Learning Cities Network demonstrate Vietnam's strong commitment to inclusion, capacity building, and lifelong learning.

In the field of science, Vietnam plays an active role through its extensive participation in key UNESCO programs. Vietnam currently has 11 Biosphere Reserves, 4 Global Geoparks, and 2 Category II Centers for Mathematics and Physics.

Hosting international events such as the 8th International Conference of the UNESCO Global Geoparks Network for the Asia-Pacific region (2024), or the 32nd Session of the Intergovernmental Hydrological Programme Steering Committee for the Asia-Pacific region (2025), clearly demonstrates Vietnam's role in promoting regional scientific cooperation. The Water Resources Law (2023) and its science-technology-innovation policies further show how Vietnam integrates science with sustainable development policy planning.

In particular, Vietnam has just published the "Assessment of Ethical Readiness for Artificial Intelligence (AI)" report, as recommended by UNESCO – a significant milestone in promoting an AI ecosystem that is human-centered, ethical, and inclusive.

In terms of culture, Vietnam is a leading partner of UNESCO in the field of heritage preservation and promotion. Vietnam currently has 9 World Heritage Sites, 16 Intangible Cultural Heritage sites, and 4 Creative Cities (Hanoi, Hoi An, Da Lat, and most recently, Ho Chi Minh City).

Vietnam is also actively integrating heritage conservation into national policies and effectively utilizing UNESCO designations – such as at Trang An – to promote sustainable community tourism.

- Looking ahead, what does UNESCO expect from Vietnam as Vice-President of the General Assembly Session and as an active partner in promoting UNESCO's values ​​of peace, inclusiveness, and innovation?

Jonathan Wallace Baker: As Vice President of the General Assembly session, Vietnam is well-positioned to continue participating in UNESCO's common agenda amidst the challenges facing multilateral cooperation.

UNESCO expects Vietnam to continue to play a bridging role between regions, between developed and developing countries, contributing to ensuring that global decisions are inclusive and that no country is left behind in the process of achieving the Sustainable Development Goals.

Vietnam can also continue to share best practices in educational reform, cultural preservation, and promoting science-based innovation – areas where Vietnam has achieved many notable successes.

These successes offer valuable lessons on how to translate policies into tangible results for people and communities. UNESCO believes that Vietnam will continue to be a voice of dialogue, peace, and innovation.

Thank you very much, sir!

(VNA/Vietnam+)

Source: https://www.vietnamplus.vn/truong-dai-dien-unesco-viet-nam-se-tiep-tiep-la-tieng-noi-cua-hoa-binh-sang-tao-post1077011.vnp