The conference, themed “Promoting the role of worldcultural and natural heritage in sustainable development in Vietnam,” wasjointly held by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Vietnam NationalCommission for UNESCO and the Hanoi People’s Committee.
It formed part of activities marking 35 years sinceVietnam ratified the 1972 Convention Concerning the Protection of the WorldCultural and Natural Heritage.
The participants reviewed the protection and promotionof world cultural and natural heritage values in Vietnam, and exchangedexperience in state management and the optimisation of world heritage values inlocal socio-economic development.
Vice Chairman of the Hanoi Municipal People’s Committee HaMinh Hai said after the Thang Long Imperial Citadel won the UNESCO recognitionin 2010, the Government, ministries, agencies and local authorities have focusedon preserving the site and promoting its historical, cultural, architectural andartistic values.
Communications activities have been stepped up, with arange of exhibitions which attracted crowds of visitors, he said, adding thatmany research studies have also been carried out.
At the conference, heritage management boards lookedinto obstacles to heritage preservation and management, and how to balancebetween conservation and development.
Present at the event, Director of the UNESCO WorldHeritage Centre Lazare Eloundou Assomo spoke of steps to remove the difficultiesand shared international experience in this regard.
Some lessons were drawn in the conference, such asperfecting legal foundations in heritage management, raising public awarenessof the work, enhancing environmental protection, strengthening international cooperation,improving capacity of heritage managers, and applying IT in heritage managementand conservation./.