Reporter:

Deputy Minister Ngo Le Van: This resolution, proposed at Vietnam's initiative and co-sponsored by 71 countries, emphasizes the crucial role of culture as the foundation of identity, a source of innovation, a pillar of sustainable development, and a response to the challenges of the times. The resolution calls on the UN to launch an international decade to fundamentally shift awareness of the role of culture and promote action at all levels to mobilize resources and increase investment in heritage education, arts and culture education, cultural industries and creative economies linked to sustainable livelihoods, enhance equal access to culture, intercultural dialogue, digital culture, and the application of cultural knowledge in adapting to climate change and protecting the environment... towards a sustainable and prosperous future for all people.

Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Ngo Le Van speaks at the 43rd session of the UNESCO General Assembly. Photo: TRA NGUYEN

Nearly 40 years after the International Decade for Cultural Development (1988-1997), this is the first time UNESCO has unanimously initiated a new international decade focused on culture. The initiative was highly praised by the UNESCO Director-General and member states for its alignment with UNESCO's strategy and current common interests, highlighting UNESCO's pioneering role in making culture an independent pillar contributing to sustainable development at the national and global levels, a driving force for maintaining peace , promoting creative industries, protecting cultural diversity, and fostering inclusive economic growth and social cohesion.

PV:

Deputy Minister Ngo Le Van: This initiative is a concrete step contributing to the implementation of the Party and State's policies on valuing culture, cultural diplomacy, and international integration in the new context. Accordingly, it emphasizes that culture is the foundation, resource, intrinsic strength, and a great driving force and regulator of sustainable social development, promoting the revival and development of Vietnamese culture in the new era. It focuses on strengthening and elevating cultural diplomacy, internationalizing Vietnamese culture with its rich national identity, and integrating world civilization into Vietnam, contributing to human civilization.

The initiative is proposed and implemented on the solid foundation of Vietnam's independent, self-reliant, multilateral, and diversified foreign policy, reflecting its proactive, positive thinking and deep integration for the common good of the international community. The initiative is a significant contribution, demonstrating Vietnam's core and leading role in shaping global development priorities, in line with the spirit of Resolution No. 59-NQ/TW dated January 24, 2025, of the Politburo on international integration in the new context.

This is the first and largest-scale initiative that Vietnam has launched at UNESCO after many years of participating in the organization. If unanimously approved by the UN, this would not only be a strategically significant contribution from Vietnam to UNESCO, affirming UNESCO's leading role in the field of culture, but also a Vietnamese initiative at the global level, demonstrating Vietnam's efforts and commitment to working together with the international community to build a peaceful, prosperous, and humane future.

PV:

Deputy Minister Ngo Le Van: The fact that Vietnam was elected to the position of Vice President of the UNESCO General Assembly at two consecutive sessions, the 42nd and 43rd, demonstrates Vietnam's increasingly high standing, prestige, and capacity to contribute to global multilateral institutions. It also affirms the support and trust of the international community in Vietnam's proactive, responsible role and leadership capabilities within global multilateral institutions, especially within the framework of UNESCO.

The Vietnamese delegation attends the 43rd session of the UNESCO General Assembly. Photo: TRA NGUYEN

This further affirms the correct foreign policy of the Party and State on multilateralism, diversification, and comprehensive, deep, and effective international integration, advocating for the promotion and elevation of multilateral diplomacy. With the responsibility of being Vice President of the 43rd UNESCO General Assembly, Vietnam continues to simultaneously assume roles in six key governing bodies of UNESCO: 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 Protection of Intangible Cultural Heritage; and member of the World Heritage Committee.

Vietnam's assumption of the Vice-Presidential role at the 43rd UNESCO General Assembly is an opportunity to continue contributing more proactively, positively, and substantively to international issues of concern to UNESCO, 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, Vietnam has the opportunity to utilize UNESCO's knowledge, ideas, and initiatives to implement strategic resolutions, serving the cause of national construction and development in an era of prosperity and strength.

PV:

    Source: https://www.qdnd.vn/van-hoa/doi-song/van-hoa-la-tru-cot-cua-phat-trien-ben-vung-1011265