Vietnam was elected Vice President of the 2003 Convention General Assembly.

Chairman of the Vietnam National Commission for UNESCO Ha Kim Ngoc emphasized the important significance of this event, once again demonstrating Vietnam's increasing international position and prestige.

Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Ha Kim Ngoc, Chairman of the Vietnam National Commission for UNESCO at the 10th Session of the General Assembly of the 2003 Convention for the Safeguarding of Intangible Cultural Heritage. (Photo: VNA)

According to a VNA correspondent in France, on June 11, at the headquarters of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) in Paris, the 10th Session of the General Assembly of the 2003 Convention for the Safeguarding of Intangible Cultural Heritage (2003 Convention) opened with the participation of 183 member countries and more than 100 observers.

Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Ha Kim Ngoc, Chairman of the Vietnam National Commission for UNESCO, led the Vietnamese delegation to attend this session.

At the opening session, Vietnam was elected by the member countries as Vice President of the 2003 Convention General Assembly, bringing the number of key UNESCO mechanisms in which Vietnam participates to 6 (member of the World Heritage Committee and the UNESCO Executive Board, Vice President of the UNESCO General Assembly, Vice President of the Intergovernmental Committee of the 2005 Convention on the Protection and Promotion of the Diversity of Cultural Expressions, Vice President of the Intergovernmental Committee and Vice President of the 2003 Convention General Assembly).

Chairman of the Vietnam National Commission for UNESCO Ha Kim Ngoc emphasized the important significance of this event, once again demonstrating Vietnam's increasingly high international position and prestige, the support and trust of the international community in our role and management capacity in global multilateral institutions, and especially the recognition of Vietnam's contributions in preserving, conserving and promoting the value of intangible heritage domestically and internationally.

This is also the result of the implementation of the Party and State's correct foreign policy on multilateralization, diversification and comprehensive and extensive international integration, the policy of promoting and elevating multilateral diplomacy, as well as the Cultural Diplomacy Strategy to 2030.

In the executive position, Vietnam will directly participate in the process of building and approving important decisions of UNESCO on culture, further contributing to the completion and implementation of the objectives of the 2003 Convention, as well as taking advantage of UNESCO's programs, plans and initiatives to serve the country's development, preserve and promote heritage values, and ensure the highest national and ethnic interests in cultural cooperation at the global level.

The Vietnamese delegation led by Deputy Foreign Minister Ha Kim Ngoc, Chairman of the Vietnam National Commission for UNESCO, attended the 10th Session of the General Assembly of the 2003 Convention for the Safeguarding of Intangible Cultural Heritage, on June 11-12 at UNESCO headquarters in Paris. (Photo: VNA)

Speaking at the opening plenary session of the 10th Session, Deputy Foreign Minister Ha Kim Ngoc highly appreciated the efforts of the Intergovernmental Committee, the Secretariat and member states of the 2003 Convention in promoting the objectives of the Convention, raising awareness of the role of protecting and transmitting intangible heritage, and putting the community at the center of heritage conservation efforts.

The Deputy Minister affirmed that Vietnam, with 15 registered intangible cultural heritages and 550 National Intangible Cultural Heritages, always pays attention to protecting intangible cultural heritages, constantly building and perfecting national policies and laws, and most recently the National Target Program on Cultural Development to 2045, and the revised Law on Cultural Heritage.

Deputy Minister Ha Kim Ngoc proposed that UNESCO and member countries should continue to strengthen international cooperation, effectively implement the Convention, prioritize experience sharing, enhance capacity for developing countries, African countries, small island developing countries, promote participation and contributions of communities, women and youth.

The member states of the 2003 Convention highly appreciate Vietnam's experience, knowledge and efforts in protecting and promoting intangible cultural heritage in terms of theory, law and practice, which is a good lesson for many countries in the region and internationally, contributing to the urgent protection of heritages at risk of being lost, preserving heritages that represent humanity and promoting models of well-protected heritages in the world.

Taking place over two days, June 11 and 12, the 10th Session of the Convention 2003 General Assembly is an opportunity for member countries to discuss important issues for the future of the Convention and direct the efforts of countries and communities towards protecting the world's living heritage.

Key topics on the agenda include: reviewing the work of the General Assembly for the 2022-2023 period; considering the wider implementation of Article 18 of the Convention; developing a plan for the use of resources of the Intangible Cultural Heritage Fund in 2024 and 2025; recognizing new non-governmental organizations and electing 12 new members of the Committee.

The General Assembly of the 2003 Convention is the highest authority of UNESCO in the field of safeguarding Intangible Cultural Heritage, comprising representatives of 183 member countries. The General Assembly decides on important issues related to policies and development guidelines of the Convention, allocates funds to support the conservation of intangible heritage in countries, and elects the Intergovernmental Committee of the 2003 Convention.

Vietnam officially joined the 2003 Convention on September 5, 2005, becoming one of the first 30 countries in the world to join this important Convention.

As an active and responsible member, Vietnam has been elected twice to the Intergovernmental Committee for the Safeguarding of Intangible Cultural Heritage. The spirit of the Convention has been applied to the Law amending and supplementing a number of articles of the Law on Cultural Heritage in 2009 and to the practice of protecting and promoting the value of intangible cultural heritage in Vietnam, with very remarkable results.

Currently, Vietnam is in the process of completing, submitting and promoting the registration of nomination dossiers such as: Yen Tu-Vinh Nghiem-Con Son, Kiep Bac relic and scenic complex; Oc Eo-Ba The archaeological site; Con Moong Cave; Ba Chua Xu Temple Festival on Sam Mountain; Dong Ho folk painting art; Cheo art; Mo Muong; Lang Son Geopark; and especially the Project to preserve and promote the value of the Central area of ​​the Imperial Citadel of Thang Long-Hanoi./.

Nguyen Thu Ha

Source : https://www.vietnamplus.vn/viet-nam-duoc-bau-lam-pho-chu-tich-dai-hoi-dong-cong-uoc-2003-post958629.vnp