UNESCO and member countries highly appreciate Vietnam's cultural initiatives.

Through the proposed initiative, Vietnam sends a strong message to international friends about the aspiration to join hands in creating a peaceful, prosperous and humane future for all humanity.

At the 43rd session of the UNESCO General Conference (Uzbekistan), countries unanimously approved the draft Resolution proposed by Vietnam with co-authors and the support of 71 countries.

Main content The Resolution recommends that the United Nations General Assembly consider launching an “International Decade of Culture for Sustainable Development” as soon as possible, prioritizing the period 2027-2036. The initiative of “International Decade of Culture for Sustainable Development” is highly appreciated by the Director-General of UNESCO as well as member countries, because it is consistent with the strategy of this organization and current common concerns.

On this occasion, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Ngo Le Van shared with the press about the content and significance of the Initiative "International Decade of Culture for Sustainable Development."

Initiative with Vietnamese imprint

- The 43rd UNESCO General Assembly has just approved Vietnam's Initiative to propose the United Nations to launch the "International Decade of Culture for Sustainable Development." Could you please share the content of this Initiative?

Deputy Minister Ngo Le Van: The 43rd session of the UNESCO General Assembly has just passed a Resolution proposing that the United Nations consider launching an International Decade of Culture for Sustainable Development at the initiative of Vietnam, with the co-sponsorship of 71 countries.

Deputy Foreign Minister Ngo Le Van speaks at the plenary session of the 43rd UNESCO General Conference. (Photo: BNG)

The Resolution emphasizes the key role of culture as the foundation of identity, a resource for innovation, a pillar of sustainable development and response to the challenges of the times.

On that basis, the Resolution calls on the United Nations to launch an International Decade to create a fundamental change in awareness of the role of culture and promote actions at all levels to mobilize resources, increase investment in heritage education, cultural and artistic education, cultural industries and creative economy associated with sustainable livelihoods, enhance equal access to culture, intercultural dialogue, digital culture, application of cultural knowledge in climate change adaptation, environmental protection... towards a sustainable and prosperous future for all people.

After nearly 40 years since the International Decade for Cultural Development 1988-1997, this is the first time UNESCO has agreed to initiate a new International Decade associated with culture. The initiative was highly appreciated by the Director-General of UNESCO as well as member countries because it is consistent with UNESCO's strategy and current common concerns, promoting UNESCO's pioneering role in making culture an independent pillar contributing to sustainable development in each country and globally, a driving force for maintaining peace , promoting creative industries, protecting cultural diversity and inclusive economic growth, and social cohesion.

In the coming time, we and the co-sponsoring countries will continue to submit the Resolution to the United Nations General Assembly for consideration and official approval, so that the International Decade of Culture for Sustainable Development for the period 2027-2036 can be soon launched. UNESCO will be the organization in charge of implementation, coordinating with other relevant organizations in the United Nations system and other partners.

Vietnamese delegation attends the 43rd session of the UNESCO General Conference. (Photo: BNG)

- Could you please evaluate the significance of this Initiative?

Deputy Minister Ngo Le Van: The initiative is a concrete step contributing to the implementation of the Party and State's guidelines and policies on valuing culture, cultural diplomacy and international integration in the new situation. Accordingly, it emphasizes that culture is the foundation, resource, endogenous strength and a great driving force, a regulatory system for sustainable social development, promoting the revival and development of Vietnamese culture in the new era, focusing on promoting and elevating cultural diplomacy, internationalizing culture imbued with Vietnamese national identity and nationalizing world civilization into Vietnam, contributing to human civilization.

The initiative was proposed and implemented on the solid foundation of Vietnam's foreign policy of independence, self-reliance, multilateralization, diversification, demonstrating Vietnam's proactive, positive thinking and deep integration for the common interests of the international community. The initiative is an important contribution demonstrating Vietnam's core and leading role in shaping global development priorities in the spirit of Resolution 59-NQ/TW - Vietnam is an active and responsible partner, proactively contributing, participating in building, shaping, and ready to contribute responsibly to the common work of the international community.

This is the first large-scale initiative that we have initiated at UNESCO since many years of joining the Organization. If approved by the United Nations, this will not only be our strategic contribution to UNESCO, affirming UNESCO's leading role in the cultural field, but also an initiative bearing the Vietnamese mark at the global level, demonstrating our efforts and commitment to join hands with the international community to create a peaceful, prosperous and humane future.

Vietnam holds key executive position of UNESCO

- Vietnam was elected as Vice President of the 43rd UNESCO General Assembly. Could you please tell us your assessment of this?

Deputy Minister Ngo Le Van: At the 43rd Session of the General Conference of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) taking place in Samarkand (Uzbekistan), Vietnam was re-elected by member countries as Vice President of the Session.

Deputy Minister Ngo Le Van met with Mr. Khaled El-Enany, the new Director-General of UNESCO for the 2025-2029 term. (Photo: BNG)

Vietnam's election to this position at the 42nd and 43rd consecutive Sessions demonstrates Vietnam's increasing position, prestige and capacity to contribute to global multilateral institutions, while also affirming the support and trust of the international community in Vietnam's proactive role, responsibility and management capacity in global multilateral institutions, especially within the framework of UNESCO.

This continues to affirm the correct foreign policy of the Party and State on multilateralization, diversification and comprehensive, extensive and effective international integration, the policy of promoting and elevating multilateral diplomacy, as in the spirit of the Resolution of the 13th National Party Congress and the draft Resolution of the 14th National Party Congress, Directive No. 25-CT/TW of the Secretariat, Resolution 59-NQ/TW dated January 24, 2025 of the Politburo on international integration in the new situation.

As Vice President of the 43rd UNESCO General Conference, Vietnam continues to simultaneously assume roles in six key UNESCO governing bodies: Vice President and member of the Intergovernmental Committee of the 2005 Convention on the Protection and Promotion of the Diversity of Cultural Expressions, Vice President and member of the Intergovernmental Committee of the 2003 Convention on the Safeguarding of Intangible Cultural Heritage; and member of the World Heritage Committee.

It can be said that the correct foreign policy, achievements in socio-economic development, Vietnam's international prestige and position, and our proactive role and contributions at UNESCO have contributed to gaining the trust and support of other countries.

Vietnam's assumption of the role of Vice President is an opportunity for us to continue to contribute more proactively, positively and substantially to international issues that UNESCO is concerned about, as well as to promote UNESCO's major programs and orientations in the fields of education, culture, science and information and communication, contributing to human civilization. At the same time, we have the opportunity to take advantage of UNESCO's knowledge, ideas and initiatives to implement strategic resolutions, serving the cause of national construction and development in an era of prosperity and wealth.

Thank you, Deputy Minister./.

(Vietnam+)

Source: https://www.vietnamplus.vn/unesco-va-cac-nuoc-thanh-vien-danh-gia-cao-sang-kien-ve-van-hoa-cua-viet-nam-post1075933.vnp