Vietnam has become a member of the UNESCO Executive Council for the 2009-2013 tenure after gaining 156 votes out of 178 ballots during the 35 th session of the UNESCO General Assembly in Paris on October 14.

This is the third time Vietnam has been elected to the Executive Council of the UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO). The country assumed the position for the 1979-1983 and 2001-2005 terms.

Vietnam ’s UNESCO Executive Council membership is the result of its open, diversified and multilateral foreign policy and represents the international community’s recognition of the country’s position, role and great contributions to the organisation’s activities.

This will be an important multilateral forum for Vietnam to continue promoting its role and position after it finishes its non-permanent membership at the UN Security Council this December.

The 58-member UNESCO Executive Council represents the UNESCO General Assembly to supervise the implementation of projects and budget management, maintain relations, consult the UN and other international organisations within the UN, prepare agendas for the General Assembly and introduce candidates to the Director-General post.

The council’s members play an important role in building strategies and action plans for the organisation./.