National Assembly Chairwoman Nguyễn Thị Kim Ngân (R) receives Director General of the United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) Irina Bokova in Ha Noi yesterday. — VNA/VNS Photo Trọng Đức

HÀ NỘI — With the motto of being a trust-worthy partner and a responsible member of the international community, Việt Nam will continue participating in UNESCO’s work in the hope of making more contributions to the organisation, National Assembly Chairwoman Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan said yesterday.

Hosting a reception for Director General of the United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) Irina Bokova in Ha Noi, the NA leader noted with pleasure growing relations between Việt Nam and UNESCO in recent years, stating that many UNESCO projects were operating in Việt Nam, and the organisation’s support in knowledge, technique, management and finance have contributed to sustainable development in the country, she said. 

The top legislator highlighted Việt Nam’s efforts in contributing to UNESCO’s work, saying that the country was a member of the UNESCO Executive Board and the World Heritage Committee and running for the post of UNESCO General Director. 

Lauding Bokova’s success through two working terms, the NA Chairwoman spoke highly of her dedication to strengthening ties between Việt Nam and UNESCO. 

For her part, Bokova said during her current Việt Nam visit, she held talks with authorities to seek measures to increase co-operation between Việt Nam and UNESCO, as well as ways to implement the memorandum of understanding between the two sides for 2016-20. 

She also signed an agreement to establish two category 2 centres for mathematics and physics under UNESCO’s sponsorship. 

The UNESCO leader appreciated the Vietnamese top legislator’s detailing of Viet Nam’s socio-economic development, and the promotion of values of UNESCO-recognised cultural works. Gender equality of Việt Nam has also progressed with women holding many important positions in the government.

Earlier on Thursday, Chairman of Việt Nam’s National UNESCO Committee Lê Hoài Trung expressed his hope for strengthened co-operation with Irina Bokova. 

They agreed that bilateral relations have developed well and were lifted to a new height after the historic visit made by then Prime Minister Nguyễn Tấn Dũng to the UNESCO headquarters in Paris, France, in 2015. 

To date, both Việt Nam and UNESCO have implemented many targets of their memorandum of understanding on co-operation effectively. 

At the meeting, the two sides discussed co-operation potential and priority goals in education, culture, science, information and communications. 

Trung, who is Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, emphasised the importance of UNESCO in implementing the 2030 sustainable development goals, adding that Việt Nam and the organisation could share ideas and experience to serve development. 

Irina Bokova affirmed Việt Nam had made important contributions to the organisation and lauded the country’s role as a bridge between ASEAN and UNESCO. 

On the same day, the UNESCO Director General visited Bái Đính Pagoda in the northern province of Ninh Bình, which is located in the Tràng An landscape complex – a UNESCO-recognised Cultural and Natural World Heritage site. 

In a meeting with provincial leaders, she praised the locality’s efforts to preserve and promote the heritage site. — VNS