The Vietnamese delegation attended the 219th session of the UNESCO’s Executive Board. Photo: UNESCO Delegation

Deputy Minister Ngoc, who is also chairman of the Vietnam National Commission for UNESCO, proposed that UNESCO and its executive board continue realizing initiatives, programs, and activities to carry out the Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) No. 4 aimed at ensuring equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all, while also seeking to strengthen the efficiency of the Global Network of Learning Cities, UNESCO Associated Schools Network and UNESCO Creative Cities Network.

Meanwhile, it remains essential to associate culture and heritage with sustainable development, promote open science and ethics in AI, strengthen biodiversity conservation, water security, ocean governance, and climate change response, contribute to the UN Summit of the Future (slated for September), and support member countries in implementing the SDGs, he suggested.

Deputy Minister Ha Kim Ngoc, chairman of the Vietnam National Commission for UNESCO, spoke at the opening of the 219th session of the UNESCO’s Executive Board. Photo: UNESCO Delegation

On this occasion, the Vietnamese diplomat held working sessions with Audrey Azoulay, director-general of UNESCO; Xing Qu, deputy director-General UNESCO; Vera Khoury Lacoeuilhe, president of the UNESCO Executive Board; Simona-Mirela Miculescu, president of the UNESCO General Conference; Anthony Ohemeng-Boamah, assistant director-general for Priority Africa and External Relations of UNESCO; and Lida Brito, assistant director-general for Natural Sciences of UNESCO; as well as heads of delegations from some member countries to promote bilateral and multilateral ties.

Deputy Minister Ngoc expressed his hope that the UNESCO leaders and the secretariat of UNESCO will provide consultancy and support new Vietnamese heritage dossiers such as those of the Yen Tu - Con Son - Kiep Bac landscape and relic complex, the Oc Eo-Ba The archaeological site, Con Moong cave, and intangible cultural heritages such as the Festival of Ba Chua Xu Goddess at Sam Mountain, Dong Ho folk painting art and Lang Son global geopark.

The nation also aspires to receive support in preserving and promoting the value of UNESCO-recognized world heritage sites, including the project to preserve, restore, and promote the value of the Imperial Citadel of Thang Long – Hanoi, Deputy Minister Ngoc said.

The leaders of UNESCO pledged to support the country in building and promoting heritage dossiers proposed by the chairman of the Vietnam National Commission for UNESCO.