Christian Manhart, UNESCO Representative in Vietnam, speaks at the conference. (Photo: VietnamPlus) Hanoi (VNA) – In 2023, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) will continue assisting with the network of creative cities, sustainable tourism, the development of local crafts, the building of heritage brands, and the policy dialogue on the cultural industry (cinematography) in Vietnam.
The information was revealed by UNESCO Representative in Vietnam Christian Manhart at a conference held in Hanoi on February 28 to review the task performance in 2022 and launch duties for 2023.
In addition, he noted, the UNESCO Office in Vietnam will coordinate with relevant parties to organise a meeting on the 2003 Convention for the Safeguarding of Intangible Cultural Heritage.
A focal task of the office this year is to promote the initiatives for the youth and workers in the creative industries while stepping up forums and connecting Hanoi, a member of the UNESCO Creative Cities Network, with others in Asia and Europe, Manhart added.
Ha Kim Ngoc, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs and Chairman of the Vietnam National Commission for UNESCO, said the country will boost coordination with the UNESCO Secretariat, specialised agencies of this organisation, the Hanoi and regional offices of UNESCO, and national commissions of other countries. It will bring into play the role of its National Commission for UNESCO in coordinating, giving advice, supporting, and supervising activities of sub-committees and localities within the framework of cooperation with UNESCO.
In particular, Vietnam will show its role as a proactive member at the 42nd session of the UNESCO General Conference, the UNESCO Executive Board for the 2021 - 2025 tenure, Committee on Conventions and Recommendations for 2021 - 2023, the Intergovernmental Committee of the 2005 Convention for the Protection and Promotion of the Diversity of Cultural Expressions for 2021 - 2025, and the Intergovernmental Committee of the 2003 Convention for the Safeguarding of Intangible Cultural Heritage for 2022 - 2026.
The country will also carry out campaigning activities to support its candidacy for a seat in the World Heritage Committee for the 2023 - 2027 tenure, and press on with implementing the memorandum of understanding on cooperation for the 2021 - 2025 period between the Vietnamese Government and UNESCO, Ngoc went on.
The conference in Hanoi in Hanoi on February 28 (Photo: VietnamPlus) This year, the Vietnam National Commission for UNESCO will continue engaging in the perfection of legal documents on cultural heritage management such as the draft revised Law on Cultural Heritage and the Government’s decree on measures for managing, protecting, and bringing into play of national intangible cultural heritage values.
The commission will boost mobilising social resources for the protection and promotion of cultural expressions, help with contemporary arts, encourage businesses to invest in culture and creation, and implement the plan on developing the UNESCO Creative Cities Network. It will keep working closely with localities and related sectors to complete dossiers seeking heritage status recognition, and introduce the UNESCO-recognised heritage pieces and traditional cultural values of Vietnam at events popularising the country’s images, the official added.
Visitors to an exhibition of products based on folk paintings at the Hanoi Museum. The display is among efforts to popularise Hanoi as a creative city. (Photo: VietnamPlus) Meanwhile, Vietnam will actively take part in UNESCO programmes on information and communications such as the International Programme for the Development of Communication (IPDC), the Information for All Programme (IFAP), and the Media and Information Literacy programme.
The national commission will also promote UNESCO’s assistance with communications activities and dissemination of media knowledge, including improving digital skills and literacy, educating in journalism ethics and gender equality, and introducing UNESCO titles, Deputy Minister Ngoc said./.
| The UNESCO Creative Cities Network was initiated in 2004 with a view to promoting cooperation among cities that recognise creativity as a significant factor of their development. The network recognises seven factors – craft and folk arts, media, film, design, gastronomy, literature, and music – as creative fields. About 300 cities around the world have become members of this network so far. In Vietnam, Hanoi was the first city to join the UNESCO Creative Cities Network, in 2019. |
