Kính Thiên Palace. — Photo from the Thăng Long Imperial Citadel's official website

HÀ NỘI — Secretary of the Hà Nội Party’s Committee Đinh Tiến Dũng on March 24 asked for continued support from the UNESCO World Heritage Centre (WHC) for a project to restore Kính Thiên Palace in the Thăng Long Imperial Citadel in Hà Nội, which was recognised as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2010.

He made the suggestion at a reception for the WHC’s director, Lazzarre Eloundou, who is on a visit to Việt Nam to attend a conference entitled “Promoting the role of world cultural and natural heritage in sustainable development in Việt Nam.”

Dũng said as a "Heritage City" with an extremely rich and diverse cultural heritage fund, Hà Nội has received great attention and help from the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) in cultural conservation and development.

He affirmed that the cooperation between Hà Nội and UNESCO has contributed to promoting the cultural heritage and values as well as the unique images of Hà Nội and the country and people of Việt Nam to friends and the international community.

According to the official, Hà Nội has strictly implemented the Government's commitments to the World Heritage Committee, especially those relating to expanding the archaeological excavation area in the Thăng Long Citadel, and researching the value of architectural monuments of the Pre-Nguyễn Dynasty on the central axis of the Forbidden Citadel of Thăng Long. 

The archaeological findings and research results have provided authentic evidence that has prompted the city to decide on the restoration of the main space of Kính Thien Palace, Dũng said.

This year, Hà Nội will take the first steps in the roadmap to restore the main space of Kính Thiên Palace, thereby, helping people and international tourists have more opportunities to learn about the cultural history of Việt Nam through the visualisation of the majestic and splendid main hall architecture representing the Thăng Long Imperial Citadel – a symbol of the eternity of the country, the official said.

For his part, Lazzarre Eloundou highly appreciated the commitment of the Hà Nội administration in preserving and promoting the heritages. He affirmed that Việt Nam has been playing an active role in conserving world heritages and hopes that Vietnam will continue to promote its role.

He also said that his centre will exchange and coordinate with the Hà Nội administration in the restoration of Kính Thiên Palace. — VNS