Vietnam makes positive contributions to UNESCO's major orientations
VOV.VN - Ambassador Nguyen Thi Van Anh, Permanent Representative of Vietnam to UNESCO, has underscored the country's shift from an aid recipient to an active partner shaping the organization's major orientations at the 225th session of the Executive Board in Paris.
The session is taking place from October 8-20, gathering 58 member states and observer nations to review UNESCO's programs, activities, and governance, including the UNESCO 80 reform process.
Addressing the plenary meeting on October 9, Ambassador Van Anh stressed that amid profound changes in the international order, UNESCO must promote its unique mission to build peace foundations and support equitable, inclusive, and sustainable development.
The diplomat reaffirmed Vietnam's support for UNESCO's specialized mandate. She highlighted the organization's leadership in accelerating Sustainable Development Goal 4 (SDG 4) on quality education. In culture, she welcomed the UN General Assembly's proclamation of the "International Decade of Culture for Sustainable Development" (2027-2036), a Vietnam-led initiative, and urged UNESCO to turn the Decade's objectives into concrete action.
On digital technology, she advocated human-centered, inclusive, safe, transparent, and responsible tech governance respecting national and digital sovereignty. In this spirit, she backed studies on a normative instrument concerning youth and digital environments in the AI era. She also supported the UNESCO 80 reforms to enhance operational efficiency.
Marking 50 years of Vietnam-UNESCO ties (1976-2026), Ambassador Van Anh cited the recent Asia-Pacific Dialogue on Heritage and Authenticity held in Vietnam as a testimony to this deepening partnership.
Concluding her address, the diplomat called on member states to enhance cooperation and solidarity, reinforce multilateralism, and restore trust on the basis of respect for the UN Charter and international law, turning commitments into practical benefits for all peoples.
Earlier on October 8, in his address at the opening session, UNESCO Director-General Khaled El-Enany once again congratulated the UN General Assembly's official adoption in September 2026 of the resolution declaring 2027-2036 as the International Decade of Culture for Sustainable Development. This initiative was first proposed by Vietnam at UNESCO and subsequently promoted alongside other countries at the UN.
Vietnam-UNESCO cooperation emerges as successful, dynamic, substantive model
Vietnam-UNESCO cooperation is regarded by UNESCO and its member states as one of the organisation’s successful, dynamic and effective models of cooperation, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Ngo Le Van told the press on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of Vietnam’s cooperation with UNESCO (1976 - 2026).
UNESCO, countries welcome Vietnam-led cultural initiative
UNESCO Director-General Khaled El-Enany hailed the UN General Assembly’s proclamation of the International Decade of Culture for Sustainable Development (2027–2036), thanking Vietnam for promoting the initiative, as well as all co-sponsoring countries and the Group of Friends for Culture at the UN for their support.
