New York (VNA) – Vietnam hasimplemented a wide range of policies to preserve and promote cultural diversityamong ethnic groups, considering it an extremely important factor to ensurepeace, stability and sustainable development, a Vietnamese diplomat has said.
Speaking at the High-Level Meeting of the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) on HumanRights and Cultural Diversity at the UN headquarters in New York on December 1(Vietnam time), Ambassador Nguyen Phuong Nga, head of Vietnam’s permanentmission to the UN, welcomed and supported the adoption of the Political Declarationand Action Programme of the NAM on human rights and cultural diversity.
She stressed the need to continue treasuring the NAM’s fundamental values ofsolidarity, tolerance, dialogue and cooperation.
She affirmed that Vietnam backs constructive dialogue and cooperation on thebasis of mutual respect and no interference in internal affairs of sovereigncountries.
It is necessary to have a balanced and comprehensive approach to fostering andensuring human rights, she said, adding that economic, cultural and socialrights should be respected as political and civil rights, with regards todevelopment level, history and specific features of each nation.
In his opening remark at the meeting, themed “Solidarity, Dialogue andTolerance in A Diverse World: Towards a Culture of Peace”, Miroslav Lajcak,President of the 72nd Session of the UN General Assembly, assertedthat solidarity, dialogue and tolerance are all hallmarks of multilaterialismand the NAM is a major contributor to this trend.
Emphasising the importance of a culture of peace, he said that a culture ofpeace is not possible without respect for human rights and dialogue holds thekey to almost all of multilateral objectives as it can foster tolerance andsolidarity among diversity, prevent conflicts and build a culture of sustainingpeace, he said.
The meeting adopted the Political Declaration and Action Programme of the NAMon human rights and cultural diversity, which affirm that respect for culturaldiversity and cultural rights contributes to consolidating peace and friendshipamong nations.
NAM countries also vowed to foster a culture of peace in line with the UNCharter towards the realisation of human rights while encouraging the promotionof cultural diversity via dialogue and cooperation.-VNA
VNA