Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Ha Kim Ngoc speaks at the plenary session on November 8 at the 42nd UNESCO General Conference.

Speaking to VNA reporters at the UNESCO headquarters, Deputy Foreign Minister Ha Kim Ngoc, Chairman of the Vietnam National Commission for UNESCO, highly appreciated this event. According to him, Vietnam being elected as one of the Vice Presidents of the UNESCO General Assembly at the 42nd session, representing the Asia-Pacific region, is very important. This continues to affirm the correct foreign policy of the Party and State on multilateralization, diversification and comprehensive, deep 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 Directive No. 25-CT/TW of the Secretariat. This trust from the international community also demonstrates Vietnam's increasing position and prestige in the international arena, showing the support and trust of the international community in Vietnam's ability to contribute and its management capacity in global multilateral institutions, especially its positive contributions to UNESCO's activities. This is also the result of the effective implementation of the Cultural Diplomacy Strategy to 2030, the systematic and synchronous mobilization of international partners to gain such widespread support.

Vietnamese delegation attends the 42nd session of the UNESCO General Conference

According to Deputy Minister Ha Kim Ngoc, with this new responsibility, for the first time Vietnam simultaneously assumes roles in four key mechanisms of UNESCO (member of the UNESCO Executive Board, Vice President of the Intergovernmental Committee of the 2005 Convention on the Protection and Promotion of the Diversity of Cultural Expressions, member of the Intergovernmental Committee of the 2003 Convention on the Safeguarding of Intangible Cultural Heritage). Vietnam has the opportunity to directly participate in the management process, shaping important policies and decisions of UNESCO.

Taking on the role of Vice President of the General Assembly is also a good opportunity for Vietnam to demonstrate its "dual responsibility" in making more proactive, positive and substantive contributions to international issues of concern to UNESCO, as well as promoting UNESCO's major programs and orientations in five areas: education, culture, natural sciences, social sciences and information and communication; at the same time, protecting national interests, taking advantage of UNESCO's ideas and initiatives to serve the cause of building and developing the country in a sustainable, synchronous and comprehensive manner.

According to VNA