Foreign Minister Le Hoai Trung delivers opening speech at Asia-Pacific Dialogue on Heritage and Authenticity in Hanoi

Minister of Foreign Affairs Le Hoai Trung takes a commemorative photo with delegates attending the Opening Session of the Asia-Pacific Dialogue on Heritage and Authenticity in Hanoi. (Photo: Quang Hoa)

The conference is organized by the Vietnam National Commission for UNESCO in collaboration with UNESCO, the People's Committee of Hanoi, and the People's Committee of Ninh Binh, taking place in Hanoi and Ninh Binh from September 27 to October 1, 2026. On the Vietnamese side, attendees include Politburo Member and Minister of Foreign Affairs Le Hoai Trung; Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs and Chairman of the Vietnam National Commission for UNESCO Ngo Le Van; Deputy Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism and Vice Chairman of the Vietnam National Commission for UNESCO Hoang Dao Cuong; Deputy Secretary of the Hanoi Party Committee Nguyen Van Phong, leaders of localities with world heritage sites and heritage nomination dossiers, and representatives from management agencies, research institutes, heritage management boards, and communities in Vietnam.

International delegates include Director of the UNESCO World Heritage Centre Lazare Eloundou Assomo; Chairman of the 49th World Heritage Committee Ihsan Mustafa Yurdakul; UNESCO Representative in Vietnam Jonathan Wallace Baker; Ambassadors and representatives from member countries of the World Heritage Committee, Advisory Bodies, heritage management agencies in the Asia-Pacific region, along with many international experts and scholars on heritage.

Minister of Foreign Affairs Le Hoai Trung speaks at the Asia-Pacific Dialogue on Heritage and Authenticity, morning of September 28 in Hanoi. (Photo: Quang Hoa)

In his opening remarks, Minister of Foreign Affairs Le Hoai Trung emphasised that the conference takes place at a particularly meaningful time as Vietnam and UNESCO celebrate 50 years of relations; the 80th session of the United Nations General Assembly has just passed a resolution declaring the period 2027–2036 as the International Decade for Culture for Sustainable Development, an initiative co-sponsored by Vietnam and 103 countries; and in 2027, the 1972 Convention on the Protection of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage will mark its 55th anniversary.

The Foreign Minister affirmed: “Heritage is the memory of humanity, the thread connecting the past with today and tomorrow”; preserving the authenticity of heritage ultimately means respecting historical truth and the values preserved and continued by generations. Referring to the Asia-Pacific region, the Minister noted that it is both a cradle of human civilization and a dynamic development center, yet heritage is under increasing pressure from urbanization, infrastructure development, and climate change. If the region can harmoniously resolve the relationship between conservation and development, it will not only be a regional success but also a valuable lesson for the world.

The Minister also affirmed that the 1972 World Heritage Convention is a notable achievement of multilateralism, reflecting a shared responsibility in protecting values belonging to all humanity. Minister Le Hoai Trung emphasised that Vietnam's policy values culture as a foundation, a goal, and a driving force for sustainable development; Vietnam advocates for conservation for development and development for better conservation, resolutely not trading off identity and heritage for mere economic growth, seeing investment in culture as investment in development, people, and the future.

The dialogue aims to build the Hanoi Outcome Document on Authenticity and Heritage, contributing to promoting regional cooperation in heritage conservation and value enhancement.

Foreign Minister Le Hoai Trung urged delegates to focus on several key issues: First, recognizing authenticity based on respecting cultural diversity, placing each heritage in the cultural context that created and nurtured it, and proposing the conference deepen common understanding of authenticity so that the World Heritage List becomes more balanced, representative, and reliable; Second, emphasising responsibility to history and future generations, ensuring all conservation, restoration, and rehabilitation decisions are based on scientific foundations, open dialogue, and responsible technology application, suggesting the conference discuss and form responsible conduct principles when applying digital technology and artificial intelligence to heritage, so technology truly serves historical truth; Third, centering on people and communities as the core, particularly valuing the voices of artisans, elders, women, and ethnic communities who directly preserve, practice, and transmit heritage, while promoting the role of the younger generation in continuing and creating heritage values; Fourth, strengthening solidarity, international cooperation, and turning awareness into action, especially sharing experiences, technology, human resource training, and supporting developing countries.

The Minister proposed establishing an Asia-Pacific Heritage Cooperation Network, coordinating with UNESCO to regularly organize regional training programs for young heritage experts and maintaining this dialogue as a regular regional forum. Vietnam hopes the Hanoi Document will not stop at awareness but become a guide for action.

Deputy Secretary of the Hanoi Party Committee Nguyen Van Phong welcomes delegates attending the Asia-Pacific Dialogue on Heritage and Authenticity.

As the host country, the Government of Vietnam will direct ministries, sectors, and localities to concretize the recommendations of the Hanoi Document in institutions, policies, and practical heritage management; continue to prioritize resources for conservation, digital transformation, and expert training. The Minister affirmed that during the year Vietnam hosts APEC 2027, culture and heritage can become a bridge between economies, contributing to promoting a peaceful, prosperous, culturally rich, and sustainably developing Asia-Pacific.

In his speech at the Opening Session, Deputy Secretary of the Hanoi Party Committee Nguyen Van Phong warmly welcomed international delegates to Hanoi, the thousand-year-old capital, City for Peace. Hanoi is a place that gathers a particularly rich and diverse cultural heritage treasure, with over 6,000 relics, thousands of intangible cultural heritages inventoried, many national treasures, and UNESCO-listed heritages.

These values are both a source of pride and place a great responsibility on the City to preserve, protect the integrity, authenticity, and identity of heritage, while promoting heritage as a resource for traditional education, cultural identity building, socio-economic development, and improving the quality of life for the people.

The Deputy Secretary of the Hanoi Party Committee affirmed that the conference being held in the capital is significant as Hanoi is actively promoting the conservation and enhancement of the Thang Long Imperial Citadel Central Area and implementing the project to preserve, restore, and rehabilitate Kinh Thien Palace. The exchanges at the conference will provide additional scientific foundations and international experience to harmonize the requirements of preserving authenticity, maintaining historical memory with continuing and promoting heritage values in contemporary life.

Mr. Ihsan Mustafa Yurdakul, Chairman of the World Heritage Committee, speaks at the opening session. (Photo: Quang Hoa)

Speaking at the Opening Session, Chairman of the 49th World Heritage Committee Ishan Mustafa Yurdakul highly appreciated the dynamic and active role of host country Vietnam as Vice Chairman of the World Heritage Committee, affirming that promoting dialogue in the Asia-Pacific region will contribute to strengthening inclusivity and sustainability for the World Heritage system through respecting cultural diversity; committed to closely coordinating with Vietnam to promote the outcomes of this conference at the 49th session of the World Heritage Committee to be held in Istanbul (Turkey) in 2027.

On behalf of the UNESCO Director-General, Director of the World Heritage Centre Lazare Eloundou Assomo sincerely thanked the Government of Vietnam for hosting the conference, preparing thoroughly with high responsibility. Mr. Assomo affirmed that Vietnam has always been an active and responsible member of UNESCO, the World Heritage Committee, exemplifying the conservation and promotion of heritage values linked to sustainable socio-economic development, connected to the livelihoods of the people.

The Director of the World Heritage Centre also highly appreciated the management of heritage sites such as the Thang Long Imperial Citadel, Trang An, Hoi An, Hue, Ha Long Bay to the Yen Tu Complex, considering them as lessons for the international community, where faith, memory, and living practices are closely intertwined with the heritage landscape.

Mr. Assomo believes that the recommendations from the Hanoi Document affirm the efforts of the Asia-Pacific region contributing to the common discussion process, helping the World Heritage Convention become increasingly strong, inclusive, and accurately reflect the diversity of humanity's heritage. He also warmly congratulated Vietnam for demonstrating pioneering roles and global vision through initiating the International Decade for Culture for Sustainable Development (2027–2036), which was approved by the United Nations General Assembly at its session on September 4, 2026, committing to accompany in effectively implementing the Decade.

Mr. Lazare Eloundou Assomo, Director of the World Heritage Centre, speaks at the opening session. (Photo: Quang Hoa)

Just before the Opening Session, Politburo Member and Minister of Foreign Affairs Le Hoai Trung had a working session with the Chairman of the 49th World Heritage Committee, Director of the World Heritage Centre, Ambassadors of countries alongside UNESCO, ICOMOS, and international delegates attending the conference. The Minister affirmed Vietnam's appreciation for UNESCO's role and contributions in promoting multilateralism and global issues related to culture, education, science and technology, communication, and digital transformation; emphasizing the comprehensive, effective, and substantive partnership between Vietnam and UNESCO over 50 years (1976-2026).

In the new era of development, Vietnam considers culture as the spiritual foundation of society, an intrinsic resource, a driving force for sustainable development, and an important source of national soft power; while emphasizing that education, science, technology, innovation, and digital transformation will play a central role in Vietnam's development process.

Minister of Foreign Affairs Le Hoai Trung receives international delegates attending the conference. (Photo: Quang Hoa)

Foreign Minister Le Hoai Trung shared Vietnam's commitment to preserving and promoting the value of 79 UNESCO heritage sites and titles in Vietnam, emphasizing that this is a model for sustainable socio-economic development, providing livelihoods for people, communities, and localities. The Minister expressed a desire to continue close cooperation with UNESCO and Advisory Bodies regarding the Thang Long Imperial Citadel, Kinh Thien Palace; while seeking technical support for Oc Eo - Ba The and several Vietnamese dossiers under preparation.

International delegates expressed joy and gratitude to Minister Le Hoai Trung for representing the Government of Vietnam in receiving the delegation, assessing Vietnam as an important, reliable strategic partner, making effective, substantive contributions to UNESCO, serving as a model of cooperation between member countries and the Organization, especially the results of cooperation in preserving and promoting the value of the World Heritage Centre of Thang Long Imperial Citadel as a valuable experience to be widely shared with member countries.

Delegates were impressed by Vietnam's dynamic development as well as its visionary and wise leadership through Vietnam's major strategies and policies in recent times, committing to support Vietnam's heritage dossiers being promoted; while closely coordinating with host country Vietnam to achieve substantive results from the conference, contributing positively to humanity's common efforts for peace, cooperation, and sustainable development.

Minister of Foreign Affairs Le Hoai Trung takes a commemorative photo with delegates attending the Opening Session of the Asia-Pacific Dialogue on Heritage and Authenticity in Hanoi.

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