Ninh Binh seeks UNESCO’s enhanced support in heritage preservation

Secretary of the provincial Party Committee Doan Minh Huan (L) and Chief Representative of UNESCO in Vietnam Jonathan Baker. (Photo: VNA)

Ninh Binh (VNA) – The northern province of Ninh Binh, home to the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Trang An Scenic Landscape Complex, wants to integrateinto the global network of heritage cities and towns to learn preservation and tourismdevelopment experiences through UNESCO, Secretary of the provincial PartyCommittee Doan Minh Huan said on January 19.

At a working session with a UNESCO delegation led by Chief Representative ofUNESCO in Vietnam Jonathan Baker, Huan laid stress on UNESCO’s important role inthe province’s socio-economic development in the past years, elaborating withthe UNESCO recognition since 2014, the Trang An complex has helped to promote localeconomic restructuring and tourism development.

NinhBinh is striving to build a millennium urban heritage site and a creative citywith outstanding values, he said, adding as a wide range of challenges have beenrecognised in the work, including the preservation and promotion of heritagevalues, climate change and urbanisation, the province hoped to receive furthersupport from UNESCO to mobilise international resources in archeological and biodiversityresearch, and projects to develop and pilot advanced preservation measures.

Ninh Binh also expects to receive assistance from and close coordination with UNESCO to build a UNESCO charteror declaration on the Trang An landscape complex, he added.

Overthe past decade, the heritage site’s values have been well preserved, making ita centre to enhance cultural exchanges, attract investment, and develop sustainable tourism, he underscored, saying the site has created livelihoodsfor local residents and become a role model in sustainable economic and tourismdevelopment in tandem with the protection of the environment and cultural values.

Ninh Binh is home to the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Trang An Scenic Landscape Complex. (Photo: VNA)

Huan took this occasion to thank UNESCO and its office in Hanoi for accompanyingthe province to nudge Trang An closer to the world, and expressed his hope thatBaker will have a successful tenure in Vietnam, helping tostrengthen the cooperation between UNESCO and Vietnam as well as itslocalities, including Ninh Binh.

Baker, for his part, expressed his impression of the achievements thatNinh Binh has recorded, and spoke highly of the province’s strategy to turnitself into a millennium urban heritage site amidst climate change challenges that have adverse impacts on heritage sites.

Pledging enhanced support for Ninh Binh in the coming time, Baker said UNESCOVietnam will organise international cooperation forums, helping localities withstriking similarities share preservation experiences with each other.

UNESCO stands ready to back Ninh Binh to engage in the global network of heritage cities and towns, and successfully hold a celebration to mark 10 years sincethe Trang An Scenic Landscape Complex earned the UNESCO recognition as the world's cultural and natural heritage site, he added./.

VNA