June 11, designated International Day of Play by UN General Assembly Resolution 78/268, was initiated by Vietnam and five other countries – Bulgaria, El Salvador, Jamaica, Kenya, and Luxembourg – and co-sponsored by 138 nations.

High on the agenda of the event was the critical role of play in child development and social progress.

Child development experts urged the international community and individual countries to prioritize this vital aspect of child development in dedicated policies and programs. The goal is to ensure that all children, regardless of circumstance, have the opportunity to play, develop, and become positive contributors to society and the world.

Permanent Representative of Vietnam to the UN Ambassador Dang Hoang Giang joins  an "Early Learning through Play" event with preschoolers from the UN International School (UNIS) in New York (Photo: VOV)

Standing Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Nguyen Minh Vu and Permanent Representative of Vietnam to the UN Ambassador Dang Hoang Giang joined the celebration as special guests at an "Early Learning through Play" event where they engaged in play-based learning activities with preschoolers from the UN International School (UNIS) in New York.

Attending the celebration at UN headquarters were the wife of the President of El Salvador, Executive Director and Goodwill Ambassador of the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF), Director of UNESCO in New York, Ambassadors, heads of the delegations of member countries of the Initiative Core Group, representatives of the delegations of United Nations members, representatives of several international organizations, and children from multiple countries on every continent.