Ambassador pledges utmost efforts to contribute to Vietnam-UNESCO ties

Paris (VNA) – Ambassador Le Thi Hong Van, Permanent Representative of Vietnam to UNESCO, presented her credentials to UNESCO Director-General Audrey Azoulay at the organisation’s headquarters in Paris on November 3.

Receiving the diplomat, Azoulay expressed her delight at the development of Vietnam-UNESCO relations while highly valuing the country’s practical contributions to the organisation’s important issues.

She said Vietnam has always been an active and responsible member and one of the countries taking the lead in effectively carrying out UNESCO programmes and activities, especially those on education for sustainable development, humans and the biosphere, climate change response, maintenance and promotion of cultural values, and preservation of tangible and intangible cultural heritage.

The Director-General voiced her hope that the country will continue making effective contributions to the implementation of the UNESCO Strategic Transformation and global initiatives that this organisation is promoting like the Futures of Education, ethics of artificial intelligence, and Open Science.

She also hailed Vietnam’s active role as Chair of ASEAN in 2020 and a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council for 2020-2021, which has helped enhance ASEAN-UN cooperation, including ties between ASEAN and UNESCO.

Congratulating Van on her new position, Azoulay affirmed that both Vietnam and the ambassador will continue to receive support, cooperation and assistance from UNESCO and herself.

She also revealed her intention to visit the country soon so as to discuss concrete measures to lift bilateral relations to a new height.

For her part, Van spoke highly of efforts by the Director-General and the role of UNESCO, which is one of the most important specialised organisations of the UN and has effectively helped with common issues of the international community.

She echoed Azoulay’s view that Vietnam-UNESCO relations have been growing in all aspects, from education, natural science, social science, humanity, to information and communications, particularly in the implementation of the 2015-2020 cooperation agreement.

The ambassador appreciated UNESCO’s support for and cooperation with Vietnam, as well as its close coordination with the Vietnam National Commission for UNESCO and the UNESCO Office in Hanoi.

The UN is always a priority in Vietnam’s foreign policy, Van said, stressing that the country treasures UNESCO’s assistance that has helped promote sustainable and inclusive socio-economic development in the nation.

The two sides should further enhance cooperation and share ideas and experience to contribute to the realisation of the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals by 2030, she suggested.

Vietnam, a member of UNESCO since July 1976, will continue proactive and active contributions to important activities and issues of this organisation, Van noted, adding that as ASEAN Chair in 2020 and a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council for 2020-2021, it will also work harder to help tighten ASEAN’s links with the UN, including UNESCO.

The ambassador pledged all-out efforts during her term to strengthen Vietnam-UNESCO ties and welcomed Azoulay’s plan to visit the country to discuss cooperation orientations and priorities for the time ahead./.