As a member of the UNESCO Executive Board, Vietnam will continue bringing into play its role as a dynamic and responsible member actively helping build and shape this organisation, Ambassador Le Thi Hong Van said.
UNESCO recently inscribed the art of Xoe dance of the Thai ethnic group in the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity (Photo: VNA)– As
a member of the UNESCO Executive Board, Vietnam will continue bringing into play
its role as a dynamic and responsible member actively helping build and shape
this organisation, Ambassador Le Thi Hong Van said.
Talking to the Vietnam News
Agency, the head of the Permanent Delegation of Vietnam to UNESCO said Vietnam
was one of the countries winning the most votes in the election of new members
to the UNESCO Executive Board for 2021 - 2025, which has affirmed its stature
and prestige, as well as the international community’s trust in the country's capacity of
contributing to and operating global multilateral institutions.
This is also a good
opportunity for raising the Vietnam - UNESCO cooperation to the next level and opening
up “new development spaces” for the country, thereby helping improve people’s
spiritual life and create a favourable basis for Vietnam to achieve the sustainable
development goals, Van went on.
She noted Vietnam’s success
in cultural diplomacy in 2021 can be seen in four aspects. The first is Prime
Minister Pham Minh Chinh’s first visit to the UNESCO headquarters in Paris on
November 5, which coincided with the 75th founding anniversary of this
organisation and the 45th anniversary of Vietnam - UNESCO ties. Second,
the country had many titles and heritages bestowed or recognised by UNESCO. Third,
cultural diplomacy has effectively made use of the organisation’s knowledge and
resources for preserving and promoting heritage values, and assisting people
and localities to achieve sustainable development. Fourth, multilateral external
activities have been promoted at UNESCO.
As Chair of the Asia-Pacific
Group in UNESCO and Vice Chair of the UNESCO’s Memory of the World Committee
for Asia and the Pacific, Vietnam has shown its leadership and reconciliation
role and the image of a responsible country upholding international law,
building up consensus, and seeking proper solutions to issues of common
concern, according to the ambassador.
Van added that in the time
ahead, Vietnam will have to continually make proactive and creative efforts to
carry out five groups of tasks in UNESCO: proposing policies and optimising
UNESCO’s ideas and initiatives to assist the realisation of national targets;
continuing to develop the Vietnam - UNESCO partnership in a substantive and
effective manner; taking part in the building and defence of the dossiers
seeking UNESCO recognition; popularising Vietnam’s image in the world; and
raising the country’s position and prestige by contributing more to common
issues and taking up more responsibility in UNESCO mechanisms./.