Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Cao Bang province discuss co-organizing the International Conference on Global Geoparks

On the afternoon of March 6, at the headquarters of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Deputy Minister Ha Kim Ngoc, Chairman of the Vietnam National Commission for UNESCO (VNUU), received and worked with the delegation of Cao Bang province led by Deputy Secretary of the Provincial Party Committee and Chairman of the Cao Bang Provincial People's Committee Hoang Xuan Anh.

Thứ trưởng Ngoại giao Hà Kim Ngọc làm việc với Đoàn UBND tỉnh Cao Bằng về việc tổ chức Hội nghị lần thứ 8 Mạng lưới Công viên địa chất toàn cầu UNESCO

Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Ha Kim Ngoc, Chairman of the Vietnam National Commission for UNESCO, received Chairman of the People's Committee of Cao Bang province Hoang Xuan Anh.

The delegation of Cao Bang province also included Director of the Department of Foreign Affairs Pham Van Cao; Director of the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism Sam Viet An; Deputy Chief of Office of the People's Committee Vu Anh Tuan; Deputy Director of the Management Board of Non Nuoc Cao Bang Global Geopark Vi Tran Thuy and representatives of leaders and officers of relevant departments, offices and divisions of the province.

On the side of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Vietnam National Commission for UNESCO, there were Acting Director of the Department of Cultural Diplomacy and UNESCO, Secretary General of the Vietnam National Commission Le Thi Hong Van; Deputy Director of the Department, Deputy Secretary General of the Vietnam National Commission Hoang Huu Anh; Deputy Director of the Department, Member of the National Commission for UNESCO Secretary Dao Quyen Truong; Deputy Director of the Department of Foreign Affairs Tran Thi Thu Thin; Director of the Institute of Geosciences and Mineral Resources Trinh Hai Son; Associate Professor, Dr. Tran Tan Van, member of the International Council for UNESCO Global Geoparks and representatives of staff from a number of units under the Ministry of Foreign Affairs as well as the Vietnam National Commission for UNESCO.

Deputy Minister Ha Kim Ngoc, Chairman of the Vietnam National Commission for UNESCO, worked with the delegation of Cao Bang province led by Chairman of Cao Bang Provincial People's Committee Hoang Xuan Anh.

Strengthen international cooperation and promote local image

At the meeting, Deputy Minister Ha Kim Ngoc, Chairman of the Vietnam National Commission for UNESCO, expressed his pleasure to receive the delegation and highly appreciated the close, substantive and effective coordination between the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Cao Bang province in the past time, most notably the successful organization of the Cao Bang Introduction Conference with the theme "Cao Bang - Destination - Connection and Development " in October 2023 at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Headquarters.

The conference has practically contributed to promoting the image, potential, strengths, and opportunities to attract investment, trade, and tourism of Cao Bang province to representative agencies, international organizations, enterprises, business associations, and foreign non-governmental organizations, to build Cao Bang into a dynamic, fast-growing, and sustainable province.

Deputy Minister Ha Kim Ngoc, in his capacity as Chairman of the Vietnam National Commission for UNESCO, highly appreciated Cao Bang province's efforts in preserving and promoting the value of the title Non Nuoc Cao Bang Global Geopark, recognized by UNESCO in 2018; and congratulated the province on maintaining this title in the re-evaluation in 2023. The Chairman of the Vietnam National Commission for UNESCO emphasized that the above success demonstrates Cao Bang province's sense of responsibility and seriousness in fully implementing UNESCO's regulations and recommendations.

Deputy Secretary of the Provincial Party Committee, Chairman of the Cao Bang Provincial People's Committee Hoang Xuan Anh expressed his gratitude to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for always being a pioneer in mobilizing external resources for the country's development, especially its role in paving the way, accompanying and serving the interests of people, localities and businesses in international integration, including Cao Bang province. At the same time, he thanked the Vietnam National Committee for UNESCO, along with domestic and international experts for guiding and supporting the province in successfully building and protecting the dossier of Non Nuoc Cao Bang Global Geopark.

Mr. Hoang Xuan Anh emphasized that from the time when people were still unfamiliar with the concept of Global Geopark, this title has now become a model for sustainable development of economy - society - culture - heritage - environment, at the same time creating a local brand, attracting tourism, investment, and creating livelihoods for people in the whole Cao Bang province.

Deputy Minister Ha Kim Ngoc, Chairman of Cao Bang Provincial People's Committee Hoang Xuan Anh took souvenir photos with delegates of Cao Bang Provincial People's Committee delegation.

Demonstrate international responsibility and enhance the country's image

At the meeting, the two sides spent a lot of time exchanging and discussing the content, program, and co-organization of the 8th International Conference of the UNESCO Global Geoparks Network in the Asia-Pacific region, scheduled for September 2024, in Cao Bang.

Deputy Minister Ha Kim Ngoc highly appreciated the idea and determination of Cao Bang province in hosting the Conference; stating that this is an important event in the cooperative relationship between Vietnam and UNESCO, and at the same time has the meaning of continuing the results from the International Conference with the theme " Promoting the value of UNESCO titles for sustainable development in Vietnam " taking place in Ninh Binh province in July 2023 under the auspices of UNESCO.

Chairman of Cao Bang Provincial People's Committee Hoang Xuan Anh expressed his joy and honor when Cao Bang was chosen to represent 03 Global Geoparks in Vietnam to host this International Conference. With a scale of more than 1,000 domestic and international delegates, the Provincial leaders have directed relevant departments, branches and sectors to be proactive and active in the preparation work, and at the same time believe that with the companionship of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Vietnam National Commission for UNESCO, the support from relevant ministries, branches and localities, the Conference will be organized thoughtfully and successfully, becoming a foreign mark of the Province.

The leaders of both sides emphasized that this is not only an event for Cao Bang province but also a festival for localities holding UNESCO titles. This conference is an opportunity for Vietnam to continue to demonstrate its role as an active and responsible member and make substantial contributions to the common issues of UNESCO, especially in proposing policies related to the management and promotion of the title of Global Geopark. At the same time, this is also an opportunity to strengthen international cooperation, share international experiences and promote and enhance the image of Vietnam in international forums.

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