Ambassador Nguyen Thi Van Anh, Vietnam’s Permanent Representative to UNESCO made the statement at the 18th session of the Intergovernmental Committee of the 2005 UNESCO Convention on the Protection and Promotion of the Diversity of Cultural Expressions, held in Paris on February 11.

In the digital era, as technology and artificial intelligence advance rapidly, Vietnam seeks to enhance collaboration in developing and managing creative cultural products and services in the digital space. The country aims to ensure that these efforts align with its sustainable development goals while fostering innovation and effective governance in the cultural sector, she noted.

The ambassador highlighted Vietnam’s key cultural achievements in 2024, including progress in strengthening the legal framework for cultural development, increasing investment, and prioritizing human resource development.

She said that the National Assembly has granted in-principle approval for a national target program on cultural development for the 2025-2035 period, with a total budget of VND122.25 trillion (US$5 billion). Additionally, in 2024, the Prime Minister issued Directive No. 30 on developing cultural industries, and Vietnam is set to launch a national strategy for cultural industry growth through 2030, with a vision toward 2045.

These initiatives, she said, will serve as new drivers for Vietnam’s cultural industries.

Reaffirming Vietnam’s commitment to the 2005 Convention, the ambassador expressed the country’s desire for continued international cooperation in enhancing mechanisms and policies for cultural and creative industries. The nation also aims to integrate cultural development and creativity into national and international development programs while building a national data system for the cultural sector.

The four-day session brought together Ministers of Culture, Ambassadors to UNESCO, representatives of National Commissions for UNESCO, national focal points for the 2005 Convention, and organizations working in the cultural field.

This annual meeting focused on discussing and agreeing on measures to further the Convention’s implementation. Vietnam participated as a member of the Intergovernmental Committee of the 2005 UNESCO Convention for the 2021-2025 term, which comprises 24 member states.

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