43rd UNESCO General Conference: Vietnam's initiative highlights proactive role in shaping global development priorities
WVR - Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Ngo Le Van speaks to the press on the occasion of the 43rd UNESCO General Conference.
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| Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Ngo Le Van speaks at the event. (Source: Department of External Relations and Cultural Diplomacy) |
The 43rd UNESCO General Conference has just approved Vietnam's Initiative proposing the United Nations launch an International Decade for Culture for Sustainable Development. Could you share more about this initiative?
The 43rd UNESCO General Conference has just passed a Resolution proposing the United Nations consider launching an International Decade for Culture for Sustainable Development, based on Vietnam's initiative, with the co-sponsorship of 71 countries.
The Resolution emphasizes the pivotal role of culture as the foundation of identity, a resource for innovation, and a pillar of sustainable development in addressing contemporary challenges. It calls on the United Nations to launch the International Decade to fundamentally shift perceptions about the role of culture and promote actions at various levels to mobilize resources, increase investment in heritage education, cultural and artistic 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 climate change adaptation and environmental protection, aiming for a sustainable and prosperous future for all.
Nearly 40 years after the International Decade for Cultural Development 1988-1997, this marks the first time UNESCO has agreed to initiate a new International Decade linked to culture.
The initiative has been highly praised by the UNESCO Director-General and member countries for aligning with UNESCO's strategy and current global concerns, highlighting UNESCO's pioneering role in making culture an independent pillar contributing to sustainable development both nationally and globally, a driver for peace, promoting creative industries, protecting cultural diversity, and fostering inclusive economic growth and social cohesion.
Moving forward, we and the co-sponsoring countries will continue to submit the Resolution to the United Nations General Assembly for consideration and official approval, aiming to soon launch the International Decade for Culture for Sustainable Development for the period 2027-2036, with UNESCO as the leading organization in coordination with other relevant UN agencies and partners.
How do you evaluate the significance of the Initiative?
The Initiative is a concrete step contributing to implementing the Party and State's policies on valuing culture, cultural diplomacy, and international integration in the new context.
It emphasizes culture as the foundation, resource, intrinsic strength, and a significant driving force, a regulator of sustainable social development, promoting the revival and development of Vietnamese culture in the new era, focusing on enhancing and elevating cultural diplomacy, internationalizing culture with a strong Vietnamese identity, and integrating global civilization into Vietnam, contributing to human civilization.
The Initiative was proposed and implemented on a solid foundation of an independent, self-reliant, multilateral, and diversified foreign policy, reflecting Vietnam's proactive, positive, and deep integration mindset for the common benefit of the international community.
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| The Initiative is a concrete step contributing to implementing the Party and State's policies on valuing culture, cultural diplomacy, and international integration in the new context. (Source: Department of External Relations and Cultural Diplomacy) |
The Initiative is a significant contribution reflecting Vietnam's core and leading role in shaping global development priorities as per Resolution 59-NQ/TW – Vietnam is an active, responsible partner, proactively contributing, participating in building, shaping, and ready to responsibly contribute to the common work of the international community.
This is the first large-scale initiative we have initiated at UNESCO since many years of participation in the Organization. If approved by the United Nations, this will not only be a strategically significant contribution to UNESCO, affirming UNESCO's leading role in the field of culture, but also a globally impactful initiative with a Vietnamese imprint, demonstrating efforts and commitment to join the international community in creating a peaceful, prosperous, and humane future.
Vietnam has been trusted to be elected as Vice President of the 43rd UNESCO General Conference, could you comment on this?
At the 43rd session of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) General Conference taking place in Samarkand (Uzbekistan), Vietnam was trusted by member countries to be re-elected as Vice President of the session.
Vietnam's election to this position for two consecutive sessions, the 42nd and 43rd, reflects Vietnam's increasing position, prestige, and capacity to contribute to global multilateral institutions, while affirming the international community's support and trust in Vietnam's proactive, responsible role and leadership capabilities at global multilateral institutions, especially within the framework of UNESCO.
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| Deputy Minister Ngo Le Van with the Vietnamese delegation attending the session. (Source: Department of External Relations and Cultural Diplomacy) |
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 enhancing and elevating multilateral diplomacy, as per the spirit of the 13th National Party Congress Resolution and the draft 14th National Party Congress Resolution, Directive No. 25-CT/TW of the Secretariat, Resolution 59-NQ/TW dated January 24, 2025, of the Politburo on international integration in the new context.
With the responsibility as Vice President of the 43rd UNESCO General Conference, Vietnam continues to simultaneously hold roles in six key governing mechanisms 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 for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage; member of the World Heritage Committee.
It can be said that the correct foreign policy, achievements in socio-economic development, Vietnam's international prestige and position, and our proactive contributions at UNESCO have helped gain the trust and support of other countries.
Vietnam's role as Vice President is an opportunity for us to continue contributing more proactively, positively, and substantively to international issues of UNESCO's concern, as well as to promote UNESCO's major programs and orientations in education, culture, science, and communication, contributing to human civilization, while we can leverage UNESCO's knowledge, ideas, and initiatives to implement strategic resolutions, serving the cause of building and developing the country in a prosperous and affluent era.
