Paris: Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Ha Kim Ngoc attended the 219th session of the UNESCO’s Executive Board in Paris on March 18 and 19, during which the Vietnamese representative affirmed that Vietnam always highly evaluates multilateral cooperation and UNESCO’s role, and pledges to continue to make active and positive contributions to the organisation’s common affairs.
Ngoc, who is also Chairman of the Vietnam National Commission for UNESCO, held that the world is now at a difficult time with many intertwined challenges such as the climate and environmental crisis, the booming of artificial intelligence (AI), increasing inequality, violence and armed conflicts, affecting all aspects of social life.
In that context, multilateralism and international cooperation based on openness, equality, and mutual benefit, as well as UNESCO’s mission to promote peace through dialogue, mutual understanding, and its pioneering role in strengthening global cooperation in education – training, culture, heritage, science – technology, information – communication are becoming important than ever, he stressed.
The Vietnamese representative hailed the efforts of the UNESCO Director-General and Secretariat as well as the organisation’s members in promoting interdisciplinary and multi-sector approaches, diversifying resources, and expanding the global partnership network to further strengthen the role and effectiveness of the organisation.
Ngoc proposed UNESCO and its Executive Board continue implementing initiatives, programmes and activities to realise the Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) No. 4 on ensuring equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all, while strengthening the efficiency of the Global Network of Learning Cities, UNESCO Associated Schools Network and UNESCO Creative Cities Network.
