Minister of Foreign Affairs Bùi Thanh Sơn. —VNA/VNS Photo

HÀ NỘI — Việt Nam’s election as a member of the Executive Board of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) for 2021 - 2025 holds great significance in many aspects, according to Minister of Foreign Affairs Bùi Thanh Sơn.

At the 41st session of the UNESCO General Conference in Paris, France, on Wednesday, Việt Nam won 163 out of the 178 votes to become a member of the UNESCO Executive Board for 2021 - 2025, ranking sixth among the 27 countries elected.

Talking to the press on Thursday, Sơn said that together with recent elections to prestigious multilateral organisations and institutions, Việt Nam's representation on the UNESCO Executive Board for the fifth time held great significance in many aspects.

He said it continued helping to affirm the Party and State’s clear-sighted policy on promoting multilateral diplomacy, and receiving such a high number of votes affirms the country’s stature and prestige in the international arena, showing that the international community supports its active participation in activities of international organisations, including those of the UN.

Sơn said that as a member of the UNESCO Executive Board, Việt Nam would have conditions to directly take part in the making and adoption of important decisions of this organisation, opening up opportunities for the country to guarantee national interests at the highest possible level in terms of global cultural, educational - training, and scientific - technological cooperation.

The election would also help Việt Nam make use of knowledge and external resources for socio-economic development, bring into play its cultural values, and develop education - training and science - technology, which matches the common trend in the world and meet national development requirements in the new period.

As a member of the UNESCO Executive Board for 2021 - 2025, he added, Việt Nam would continue to uphold its sense of responsibility and contribute to UNESCO activities, especially on important issues of common concern such as making reforms to improve the organisation’s democracy, transparency, and prestige; setting policies and seeking solutions to protect and promote the interests of member states, including Việt Nam; and contributing to the focal programmes of UNESCO at present such as ethics of artificial intelligence, education for sustainable development, preservation and utilisation of cultural heritage values.

"Việt Nam is determined to fulfil the responsibilities of an Executive Board member so as to promote and bring into play the role of UNESCO for the sake of humankind," the minister noted, adding that this would also be a good chance for the country to enhance cooperation with UNESCO to open up “new development spaces” for it, thereby improving the spiritual life in society and creating a favourable foundation for Việt Nam to achieve the sustainable development goals. — VNS