Deputy Foreign Minister Pham Quang Hieu speaking at UNESCO's 214th Executive Board discussion session. Photo: VNA

The event is of great significance given the impact of global issues, the COVID-19 pandemic as well as armed conflicts followed by inequality and detrimental threats to peace, security and development in the world.

Vietnam joined other countries in discussions on the medium-term strategy from 2022 to 2029, the budgeting plan from 2022 to 2025, and global initiatives on education, artificial intelligence, open science and efforts to boost multilateral cooperation to cope with global challenges for sustainable growth and recovery after the pandemic.

Vietnam supports initiatives on “the road to peace: dialogue and action for tolerance and intercultural understanding” and “UNESCO and Ocean”.

During this session, Deputy Foreign Minister Pham Quang Hieu emphasized Vietnam’s contribution and its respect for multinational cooperation through UNESCO, reiterating Vietnam’s more active and positive contribution to UNESCO as a member of the 2022-2025 Executive Council. 

Notably, Vietnam’s recommendations on promoting peace and culture, on a mandate of building “peace in mind” by UNESCO, on humanitarian approaches towards inclusive and sustainable development and on national resourcefulness were highly praised. Countries welcomed Vietnam’s experience in the promotion of cultural values and human strength in national development, heritage linkages with biospheres and geological parks, and in sustainable preservation and development models.

As the Chair of the ASEAN education in 2022, Chair of the ASEAN cultural and information committee in 2022 and key member of UNESCO in scientific cooperation, Vietnam made specific contributions to the preparation of major international events this year, including the New York Summit on Educational Transformation in September, the MONDIACULT in Mexico in late September, an international year on primary sciences for sustainable development and the 50^th anniversary of the world heritages convention. 

These contributions reflect Vietnam’s responsible and active membership on the council, as Minister of Foreign Affairs Bui Thanh Son spoke after Vietnam was voted to be a member of the UNESCO Executive Board in 2021-2025.

“Vietnam will promote its responsible, active and positive contribution to UNESCO activities, especially in important matters of interests to UNESCO and member states. We will contribute to major programs including UNESCO’s recommendation on ethics of artificial intelligence and education for sustainability as well as the preservation and development of cultural heritage values,” Mr. Son said.

Vietnam-UNESCO cooperation has boosted national development and built up a national image of rich cultural identity, dynamism and continuous growth. Vietnam represents the UNESCO values of unity, tolerance, diversity and harmony, which are components of Vietnamese identity.

Minister Bui Thanh Son said he believes that Vietnam has benefited from major strategic support for sustainable development. He added” “Vietnam is determined to fulfill its responsibility as a member of the Executive Council for strengthening the role by the UNESCO in world advancement. This is a good opportunity for promoting cooperation between Vietnam and UNESCO, leveraging its initiatives and resources for new space of development in Vietnam, better social spiritual life and facilitation of national sustainable targets.”

Vietnam has accelerated its implementation of the 13^th National Party Congress guideline on international integration and on expanded multilateral foreign relations. As a member of the UNESCO Executive Board, a key policy decision maker, Vietnam has made practical contributions to the settlement of general issues and fostering comprehensive, practical and efficient relations between Vietnam and UNESCO.