Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Pham Quang Hieu (C) speaks at the UNESCO Executive Board's 214th session. Photo: VNA

This is the first meeting of the Executive Council for the 2021-2025 term to carry out important and directional decisions of UNESCO. The Vietnamese delegation made important contributions to the meeting.

Speaking at the session, Head of the Vietnamese delegation, Deputy Foreign Minister Pham Quang Hieu said the meeting took place at an important time.

The impact of global problems such as the Covid-19 pandemic and armed conflicts affect economic development, increase inequality, and erase development achievements. They also threaten people's lives, peace, security and development of the world.

In that context, UNESCO's mission of "building peace in the minds of people" needs to be respected and pursued.

UNESCO and this session of the Council should focus on making concrete steps in education, culture, science, information and communication.

They need to implement the Mid-term Vision and Strategy 2022-2029, Program and Budget 2022-2025, reinforcing some new issues such as: Open Science, Ethical Issues in Artificial Intelligence, Future of Education. This contributes to the organization of the United Nations "Transforming Education Summit" in September 2022 in New York, and the upcoming preparatory meeting in Paris.

Pham Quang Hieu said that Vietnam always attaches importance to multilateral cooperation and the role of UNESCO particularly. He said Vietnam will continue to make contributions to UNESCO as a member of the Executive Council for the 2022-2025 term.

Deputy FM Hieu also met UNESCO Director-General Audrey Azoulay, its Deputy Director-General and the President of the Intergovernmental Committee to discuss the strengthening of cooperation between Vietnam and UNESCO. This is to implement the memorandum of understanding on bilateral collaboration in the 2021-2025 period signed last year within the visit to UNESCO headquarters by Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh.

Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Pham Quang Hieu meets UNESCO Director-General Audrey Azoulay. Photo: VNA

The Director General of UNESCO appreciated Vietnam's role and contribution to UNESCO's cooperation.

She said she would do her best with the Secretariat to implement measures to strengthen the relationship between UNESCO and Vietnam in 2022, a meaningful year marking the 45th anniversary of Vietnam's accession to UNESCO. She also accepted the invitation to visit Vietnam in 2022.

The New York Times Highlights the Southern Charms of Vietnam's Red River Delta In the 2022 edition of the 52 global destinations for a changed world, The New York Times shows keen support to safeguard centuries-old cultural heritage ...

Astounding Korean Architectures of Buddhist Culture Revisit the time when Buddhism was considered the national religion in Korea through some of the most astounding ancient architectures.

Have You Tried This UNESCO-Recognized Food? Let’s start a culinary trip to find out why these food are “cultural heritage” that you must try at least once.