Vietnam promotes its role as a responsible member of the World Heritage Committee

From July 6-16, at the headquarters of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) in Paris, France, the 47th Session of the World Heritage Committee took place with the participation of more than 1,000 delegates from 21 member countries of the Committee and more than 100 observers.

Permanent Deputy Minister, Chairman of the Vietnam National Commission for UNESCO Nguyen Minh Vu (fifth from left) and Professor Nikolay Nenov (Bulgaria), Chairman of the 47th Session of the World Heritage Committee (sixth from left) and members of the Vietnamese delegation attending the Session.

Permanent Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Nguyen Minh Vu, Chairman of the Vietnam National Commission for UNESCO, led the Vietnamese delegation to the Session. Also attending were Deputy Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism, Vice Chairman of the Vietnam National Commission for UNESCO Hoang Dao Cuong; Head of the Propaganda and Mass Mobilization Department of the Quang Ninh Provincial Party Committee; Vice Chairmen of the People's Committees of Quang Ninh, Quang Tri and Hue provinces, Head of the Internal Affairs Department of Hue City, our Ambassador to UNESCO, Secretary General of the Vietnam National Commission for UNESCO, Director of the Department of Cultural Heritage of the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, leaders of local departments and branches, the Management Boards of World Heritage Sites in Ninh Binh and Thanh Hoa provinces, the People's Committees of Hanoi and Hai Phong cities, the Secretariat of the Vietnam National Commission for UNESCO, and a group of Vietnamese experts. This is the second Session that Vietnam has participated in as a member of the World Heritage Committee for the 2023-2027 term.

Speaking at the Session, Vietnam affirmed that it always focuses on effectively implementing the World Heritage Convention, integrating the spirit and content of the Convention into the 2024 Law on Cultural Heritage and the National Target Program on Cultural Development for the 2025-2035 period, focusing on putting the community and people at the center, promoting the conservation and promotion of the values ​​of 8 world heritages in Vietnam, balancing conservation and socio-economic development, and effectively cooperating with the World Heritage Center and advisory agencies. Vietnam pledges to continue contributing to the World Heritage Fund, proposing that UNESCO and member countries continue to strengthen international cooperation, effectively implement the Convention, share experiences, improve capacity, promote participation and contributions of communities, women and youth.

Permanent Deputy Minister, Chairman of the Vietnam National Commission for UNESCO Nguyen Minh Vu, Mr. Lazare Eloundou Assomo, Director of the World Heritage Center (eighth from right) and members of the Vietnamese delegation.

On this occasion, on July 10, Permanent Deputy Minister, Chairman of the Vietnam National Commission for UNESCO Nguyen Minh Vu also had meetings and worked with Professor Nikolay Nenov, Chairman of the 47th Session of the World Heritage Committee, UNESCO Assistant Director-General for Culture Ernesto Ottone Ramirez, Director of the Lazare Eloundou Assomo World Heritage Center, Director General of the International Council on Monuments and Sites (ICOMOS) and Heads of delegations of 20 member countries of the World Heritage Committee to promote bilateral and multilateral cooperation.

The Assistant Director-General for Culture highly appreciated the results of the historic visit of General Secretary To Lam to UNESCO headquarters (October 2024) and the recent very successful visit to Vietnam by the UNESCO Director-General (June 2024), contributing to raising the level of the Vietnam-UNESCO partnership, demonstrating strategic trust and common vision of both sides. The Chairman of the World Heritage Committee and the Director of the World Heritage Center shared the view that Vietnam is an important and trustworthy strategic partner, making effective and substantial contributions to UNESCO cooperation; a model of cooperation between a member country and the Organization; a typical example in preserving and promoting heritage values ​​associated with sustainable tourism development, economic development and people's livelihoods. UNESCO leaders and member countries believe that Vietnam has many initiatives and models of cooperation in managing, preserving and promoting world heritage values ​​that need to be widely shared with other member countries.

Permanent Deputy Minister, Chairman of the Vietnam National Commission for UNESCO Nguyen Minh Vu in a conversation with Mr. Ernesto Ottone Ramirez, Assistant Director General of UNESCO for Culture Ernesto Ottone Ramirez (sixth from right).

Chairman of the National Commission for UNESCO Nguyen Minh Vu hopes that the leaders and the UNESCO Secretariat will pay attention to, provide consulting support and support for new heritage dossiers of Vietnam such as the Yen Tu-Con Son-Kiep Bac Monuments and Landscape Complex which will be considered for registration at this Session, the Oc Eo-Ba The Archaeological Site; Con Moong Cave; Dong Ho Folk Paintings; Cheo Art; Mo Muong; Ho Chi Minh City Creative City... The leaders of UNESCO and ICOMOS are committed to supporting Vietnam in building and promoting the heritage dossiers proposed by the Chairman of the National Commission for UNESCO in Vietnam.

Vietnamese delegation attends the 47th Session of the World Heritage Committee.

* In the evening of the same day (local time), the World Heritage Committee unanimously approved Decision No. 47 COM 7B.92 on the conservation and promotion of the values ​​of the Thang Long Imperial Citadel World Heritage Site, thereby acknowledging the positive results of the member country's good implementation of the recommendations of the 2024 Committee Session, including the Central Axis Vision, the archaeological strategy and the heritage interpretation strategy of Thang Long Imperial Citadel. In particular, the World Heritage Committee recommended that Vietnam continue to promote interdisciplinary research after the demolition of the buildings approved by the Committee, to supplement and clarify the Central Axis Vision of Thang Long Imperial Citadel, focusing on the restoration of Kinh Thien Palace and the Kinh Thien Palace Main Space.

Appreciating Vietnam's proactiveness, positivity and respect in promptly addressing the recommendations of the World Heritage Committee, and continuing the effective cooperation between Vietnam and UNESCO, the World Heritage Center/ICOMOS Interdisciplinary Delegation will visit Vietnam at the end of July 2025 to assess Vietnam's implementation efforts, advise on the preparation of scientific documents to submit the Report on the conservation status of the Thang Long Imperial Citadel heritage site, propose a strategy for the restoration of Kinh Thien Palace and the main space of Kinh Thien Palace before February 1, 2026, and the World Heritage Committee will consider and approve at the 48th Session in 2026.

Vietnamese delegation works with the International Council on Monuments and Sites (ICOMOS).

* The World Heritage Committee is one of the most important executive bodies of UNESCO, with the participation of 21 members, having the right to decide on key issues related to the recognition of world cultural and natural heritages; reviewing and evaluating the conservation status of world heritages worldwide; deciding on policies, budgets, and development orientations of the World Heritage Convention. This session will consider 30 new nominations, expand 2 heritages and review the conservation status of 248 world heritages that have been inscribed.

Source: https://baoquocte.vn/viet-nam-phat-huy-vai-tro-thanh-vien-trach-nhiem-cua-uy-ban-di-san-the-gioi-320593.html