The outgoing Permanent Representative of Việt Nam to UNESCO Ambassador Lê Thị Hồng Vân (left) bid farewell to UNESCO General Director Audrey Azoulay. — VNA/VNS Photo

PARIS — Việt Nam has been a responsible member and one of the pioneers in effectively implementing UNESCO’s activities and programmes, UNESCO General Director Audrey Azoulay said while receiving Permanent Representative of Việt Nam to UNESCO Ambassador Lê Thị Hồng Vân, who came to say her farewells, on December 4.

Congratulating Vân on her successful tenure, the UNESCO leader hailed Việt Nam's practical and effective contributions to UNESCO in many important issues. The country holds the positions as vice president of the 42nd session of the UNESCO’s General Conference, vice chair of the UNESCO Intergovernmental Committee of the 2005 Convention for the Protection and Promotion of the Diversity of Cultural Expression, and is a member of the Intergovernmental Committee for the Safeguarding of Intangible Cultural Heritage for the 2022-26 term.

She also congratulated Việt Nam on the country being elected a member of the World Committee for the 2023-27 tenure with the highest number of votes the Asia-Pacific region, which, she said, demonstrated the international community’s confidence in the country – an outstanding example for the preservation and promotion of heritage value.

She hoped that Việt Nam will continue sharing its experience with other countries.

Ambassador Vân spoke highly of Azoulay’s efforts and UNESCO’s roles in maintaining and consolidating peace, sustainable development and prosperity across the globe.

She agreed with the UNESCO leader that the relations between Việt Nam and UNESCO are developing in a comprehensive, practical and effective fashion, with the implementation of the cooperation minute for the 2021-25 period.

She took the occasion to thank UNESCO and Azoulay for their support to Việt Nam over the past time, and affirmed that the Southeast Asian country has treasured collaboration with UNESCO in the context that it is accelerating comprehensive renewal and deep global integration, as well as elevate the multilateral diplomacy.

The Vietnamese diplomat said she hopes that UNESCO will continue support for Việt Nam, especially in sharing initiatives and experience, making contributions to the sustainable and inclusive socioeconomic development in the country and the realisation of the UN’s 2030 Sustainable Development Goals.

She also wished that Azoulay and the UNESCO Secretariat will assist Việt Nam in building dossiers for its new heritage items such as Yên Tử-Vĩnh Nghiêm-Côn Sơn, Kiếp Bạc landscape and relic complex, Óc Eo-Ba Thê archeological relic site, and the art of Đông Hồ folk painting, while helping the country with the preservation and promotion work for the UNESCO-recognised heritage.

She said she welcomes Azoulay and other UNESCO officials to visit Việt Nam soon to discuss cooperation orientations and priorities, helping develop the Việt Nam-UNESCO ties in a stronger and more effective manner in the coming time.

The UNESCO General Director agreed with Vân's recommendations for bilateral collaboration in the future, affirming UNESCO will continue supporting Việt Nam's efforts to preserve its heritage values, and develop nature reserves, global geoparks.

UNESCO commits assistance for Việt Nam in building dossiers for its new heritage as mentioned by Vân, she said, expressing her wish to return Việt Nam soon to discuss specific cooperation measures to elevate the bilateral cooperation to a new high. — VNS