Vietnamese representative enters third round of UNESCO Director General election

With confident and convincing answers in the live interview, Mr. Pham Sanh Chau has taken another step forward in the competition for the position of UNESCO Director General.

After a 90-minute interview on the afternoon of April 27 in Paris (France), Ambassador Pham Sanh Chau announced that he had successfully entered the third round of the competition for the position of Director General of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).

In an interview broadcast live on UNESCO's website, Mr. Pham Sanh Chau, Special Envoy of the Prime Minister of Vietnam on UNESCO issues, outlined three strategic visions in his UNESCO development outline.

According to Mr. Chau, it is promoting peace, the need for reform, and especially UNESCO needs to change its approach and communication methods. “UNESCO needs to promote itself,” he said.

After a 10-minute presentation, Ambassador Pham Sanh Chau received many questions from representatives of the countries. In response to the German representative's question about how he would handle that responsibility if elected as General Director, Ambassador Pham Sanh Chau shared that he would strive to become a trusted friend, listener, caretaker and connector of all members.

Ambassador Pham Sanh Chau during an interview for the position of UNESCO Director General on the afternoon of April 27. Photo: Department of Foreign Cultural Affairs and UNESCO, Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Also in the interview, the representative from Vietnam affirmed that if elected, his number one priority will be to ensure UNESCO is a clean organization, free of corruption and scandal.

"If I become the new Director-General, with everyone's support, I will make UNESCO a stronger organization, a more united, more worthy and happier common home," he said.

At the end of the interview, Ambassador Pham Sanh Chau shared his sincere words: "I come from Vietnam, a country that has gone through decades of war but has overcome with forgiveness and tolerance. I come from Vietnam, a country that has transformed its socio-economic development and is ready to share its successful lessons, a country that always wants to be friends with all countries in the world."

Ambassador Pham Sanh Chau at the interview for the position of UNESCO Director General on April 27. Photo: Facebook/SanhChau Pham.

After the interview, Ambassador Sanh Chau shared on Facebook that "The best of the best" was the compliment he received from his friends for his excellent performance.

There are 9 candidates running for the position of UNESCO Director General this time. The interview process for each candidate took place on April 26-27, in which Mr. Pham Sanh Chau was the 6th person to enter the competition.

The secret ballot to elect the new Director-General of UNESCO will be held in the first round (consisting of 5 rounds) in October 2017 at the UNESCO Executive Board and the second round in November 2017 at the UNESCO General Conference. The term of office of the Director-General of UNESCO lasts for 4 years.

At 12 noon today, April 28, the candidates will enter the secondary round of presenting their election platforms in French in front of 70 member countries of the Francophone group.

Ambassador Pham Sanh Chau is the first Vietnamese diplomat to run for the position of head of an important United Nations agency.

Mr. Pham Sanh Chau, 55 years old, was the Vietnamese Ambassador to Belgium and the European Union (EU) from 2011 to 2014. Before that, he had been involved in education, culture, heritage and UNESCO activities for many years.

In 1999, as Ambassador to UNESCO, he campaigned for UNESCO to recognize and award the title “City for Peace” to the capital Hanoi. He also campaigned for Phong Nha - Ke Bang to be recognized by UNESCO as a World Natural Heritage.

Ambassador Pham Sanh Chau is fluent in English and French and served as an interpreter for many senior Vietnamese leaders during the period 1986-1996.

According to Zing