Minister stresses significance of Vietnam’s election to UNESCO Executive Board

Minister of Foreign Affairs Bui Thanh Son (Photo: VNA)

Hanoi (VNA)– Vietnam’s election as a member of the Executive Board of the UnitedNations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) for 2021 - 2025 holds great significance in many aspects, according to Minister of ForeignAffairs Bui Thanh Son.

Atthe 41st session of the UNESCO General Conference in Paris, France,on November 17, Vietnam won 163 out of the 178 votes to become a member of theUNESCO Executive Board for 2021 - 2025, ranking sixth among the 27countries elected.

Talking to the press onNovember 18, Son said together with its recent election to prestigiousmultilateral organisations and institutions, Vietnam's election to theUNESCO Executive Board for the fifth time holds great significance in many aspects.

First,it continues helping to affirm the Party and State’s clear-sighted policy onpromoting multilateral diplomacy, and comprehensively implementing and effectivelycombining political and economic diplomacy with cultural diplomacy, andbilateral diplomacy with multilateral diplomacy, he noted.

Second, Vietnam’s electionto the UNESCO Executive Board with a very high number of votes affirms the country’s stature andprestige in the international arena, showing that the international communitysupports its active participation in activities of international organisations,including those of the UN.

The meeting announcing the countries elected to the UNESCO Executive Board for 2021 - 2025 (Photo: VNA)

Third, as a member ofthe UNESCO Executive Board, Vietnam will have conditions to directly take partin the making and adoption of important decisions of this organisation, thus openingup opportunities for the country to guarantee national interests at the highest possiblelevel in terms of global cultural, educational - training, and scientific - technologicalcooperation. The election will also help Vietnam make use of knowledge andexternal resources for socio-economic development, bring into play itscultural values, and develop education - training and science - technology, whichmatches the common trend in the world and meet national development requirements inthe new period, according to Son.

As a member of theUNESCO Executive Board for 2021 - 2025, he went on, Vietnam will keep upholdingits sense of responsibility and proactively and actively contribute to UNESCOactivities, especially in important issues of common concern such as making reformsto improve the organisation’s democracy, transparency, and prestige; makingpolicies and seeking solutions to protect and promote the interests of memberstates, including Vietnam; and contributing to the focal programmes of UNESCOat present like ethics of artificial intelligence, education for sustainabledevelopment, preservation and utilisation of cultural heritage values.

Vietnam is determined tofulfill the responsibilities of an Executive Board member so as to promote andbring into play the role of UNESCO for the sake of humankind, the minister noted, adding that this is also a good chance for the country to enhance cooperationwith UNESCO to open up “new development spaces” for it, thereby improving thespiritual life in society and creating a favourable foundation for Vietnam toachieve the sustainable development goals./.

VNA