Briefing Conference: Affirming Vietnam's position in UNESCO
WVR - On the afternoon of February 5, the First Quarter Briefing Conference of the Vietnam National Commission for UNESCO took place at the headquarters of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
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| Ms. Le Thi Hong ơVân, Secretary-General of the Vietnam National Commission for UNESCO, chaired the First Quarter Briefing Conference. (Photo: Quang Hoa) |
The conference, chaired by Secretary-General Le Thi Hong Van, included representatives from various sub-committees and specialized committees of the Vietnam National Commission for UNESCO. It aimed to review and assess the achievements of 2025 and discuss contributions towards the Commission's work directions and tasks for 2026. The conference also saw the participation of Mr. Jonathan Wallace Baker, Head of the UNESCO Hanoi Office, and Ambassador Nguyen Thi Van Anh, Head of the Vietnamese Delegation to UNESCO.
The conference agreed that Vietnam's position is increasingly important, with Vietnam–UNESCO relations considered a model of effective cooperation, highly appreciated by the international community.
The Director-General of UNESCO (term 2021-2025) remarked, “Vietnam is a reliable and strategic partner of UNESCO”, as “one of the most active members”, and noted that “the cooperation between Vietnam and UNESCO has never been better”.
In 2025, senior leaders from both sides engaged in significant delegation exchanges, further strengthening the comprehensive, substantive, and effective relationship between Vietnam and UNESCO. Vietnam took on responsibilities in six key governing mechanisms of UNESCO. For the first time in history, Vietnam was re-elected to two important positions: Vice President of the UNESCO General Conference for the 2025-2027 term and a member of the Intergovernmental Committee for the Protection and Promotion of the Diversity of Cultural Expressions for the 2025-2029 term.
In 2025, the Vietnam National Commission for UNESCO successfully lobbied for UNESCO to recognize seven new dossiers, raising the total number of UNESCO titles in Vietnam to 77 across 34 provinces and cities, leading Southeast Asia. This achievement surpassed the targets set by the Cultural Diplomacy Strategy until 2030, contributing to promoting the image and fostering sustainable socio-economic development models in localities.
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| The conference included representatives from various sub-committees and specialized committees of the Vietnam National Commission for UNESCO to review and assess the achievements of 2025 and discuss contributions towards the Commission's work directions and tasks for 2026. (Photo: Quang Hoa) |
The conference emphasized that 2026 marks the pivotal year of the 50th anniversary of Vietnam-UNESCO relations (1976-2026), initiating the implementation of the 14th Party Congress resolution and key resolutions on legal perfection, science and technology development, innovation, digital transformation, private economic development, international integration, education and training, and Vietnamese cultural development—all key areas of UNESCO cooperation.
The conference focused on discussing the 2026 Work Plan, including activities celebrating the 50th anniversary of Vietnam-UNESCO relations (1976-2026), the program to welcome UNESCO Director-General Khaled El-Enany to Vietnam, the cooperation agreement between Vietnam and UNESCO for 2026-2030, restructuring the Vietnam National Commission for UNESCO, Vietnam's initiative on the International Decade for Culture for Sustainable Development, as well as dossiers to be considered by UNESCO in 2026 and beyond, such as the Han Nom inscriptions of Non Nuoc Mountain, the Pho Hien stone stele system, Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park, re-evaluation of the Dong Van Karst Plateau Global Geopark, renewal of two UNESCO Category II Centers on Mathematics and Physics, Mo Muong, Oc Eo – Ba The, and the Thang Long Imperial Citadel – Hanoi.
Delegates actively discussed and agreed to strive for practical and effective implementation of activities in 2026, noting that the visit of the new UNESCO Director-General is significant in enhancing the good cooperative relations between Vietnam and UNESCO, contributing to the implementation of the cooperation framework expected to be signed between Vietnam and UNESCO for 2026-2030.
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| Jonathan Wallace Baker, Head of the UNESCO Hanoi Office, attended and highly appreciated Vietnam's role and contributions at UNESCO. (Photo: Quang Hoa) |
On behalf of the UNESCO Office in Vietnam, Mr. Jonathan Wallace Baker expressed his pleasure to attend the quarterly briefing of the Vietnam National Commission for UNESCO, recognizing Vietnam as one of the most active and dynamic members of UNESCO over the past nearly 50 years; a model in building peace in the minds of people, UNESCO's core mission.
He congratulated Vietnam on its numerous achievements and positive results in UNESCO work in 2025, demonstrating the international community's high regard for Vietnam's contributions.
For 2026, the UNESCO Representative affirmed that the UNESCO Office in Vietnam will closely collaborate in developing the 2026–2030 Cooperation Agreement, organizing a series of events celebrating the 50th anniversary of Vietnam-UNESCO relations, preparing for the UNESCO Director-General's visit in 2026, and supporting Vietnam's future dossier submissions.
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| The conference affirmed Vietnam's increasingly important position and that Vietnam–UNESCO relations are a model of effective cooperation recognized internationally. (Photo: Quang Hoa) |
