UNESCO's 70th Anniversary Celebration at Thang Long Imperial Citadel

UNESCO is an organization close to the Vietnamese people and has many practical contributions to each family, locality and community.

On the evening of November 23, on the occasion of Vietnam Cultural Heritage Day and the 5th anniversary of Thang Long Imperial Citadel being recognized by UNESCO as a “World Cultural Heritage”, a ceremony was held at this historical relic to celebrate the 70th anniversary of the founding of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).

Attending the ceremony were Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Pham Binh Minh, Ms. Katherine Müller-Marin, Head of the UNESCO Office in Hanoi, Ms. Mechtild Rössler, Director of the UNESCO World Heritage Center, along with many delegates from ministries, sectors, localities of Vietnam and UNESCO officials.

Head of the UNESCO Representative Office in Hanoi Katherine Muller-Marin speaks at the ceremony. Photo: An Dang - VNA.

Speaking at the ceremony, Deputy Prime Minister Pham Binh Minh affirmed that UNESCO is a prestigious organization with a large number of members and many important contributions in the main fields of culture, education, science, information and communication. Essential issues of education such as illiteracy eradication, education for all, lifelong learning and the education for sustainable development ideology of the United Nations Agenda 2030 all bear the mark of UNESCO.

Deputy Prime Minister Pham Binh Minh said that UNESCO is also an organization close to the Vietnamese people and has made many practical contributions to each family, locality and community. Over the years, Vietnam has always strived to fully fulfill its obligations as a member country, effectively implementing initiatives and cooperation programs, making practical contributions to UNESCO's work, and taking on important responsibilities at UNESCO's leadership and professional bodies such as the Executive Board and the World Heritage Committee.

Deputy Prime Minister Pham Binh Minh emphasized: “As a nation with a tradition of loving peace, valuing education and imbued with cultural identity left by their ancestors, the Vietnamese people quickly attached themselves to the principles and purposes of UNESCO. Many of UNESCO's ideas coincide with the Vietnamese people's aspiration to live and rise up, as in President Ho Chi Minh's letter to the President of the United Nations General Assembly on January 14, 1946, that "the Vietnamese people are ready and willing to implement the noble provisions of the San Francisco Charter, the Charter of the United Nations".

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Pham Binh Minh presents the Third Class Labor Medal to the Thang Long – Hanoi Heritage Conservation Center. Photo: An Dang - VNA.

According to the Deputy Prime Minister, UNESCO's honoring of the famous people Nguyen Trai, Nguyen Du and President Ho Chi Minh once again affirms the fulcrum of belief in the strength originating from the patriotism, intelligence and values ​​of Truth - Goodness - Beauty of the Vietnamese people in its most outstanding people. Deputy Prime Minister Pham Binh Minh expressed his hope that UNESCO will continue to take the lead in promoting a culture of peace, tolerance, acceptance and respect for cultural differences.

Speaking at the ceremony, UNESCO Representative in Hanoi, Ms. Katherine Müller - Marin, also highlighted President Ho Chi Minh's emphasis on cultural diversity. She said: "He paid special attention to the relationship between culture, economy and politics, and believed that culture must permeate every cell of society and touch every person to awaken creative potential and that "The noble purpose of learning is to become a person in its true meaning".

She expressed her admiration for the love that the Vietnamese people have for preserving their ancestors' traditions, their steadfast patriotism, as well as their desire for peace, hard work and respect for family.

The Head of UNESCO Representative Office in Hanoi expressed hope that the relationship between UNESCO and Vietnam will be increasingly sustainable and achieve great results.

Previously, in a congratulatory message to Vietnam on the occasion of the 5th anniversary of Thang Long Imperial Citadel being recognized by UNESCO as a “World Cultural Heritage”, UNESCO Director General Irina Bokova also pledged that the agency will continue to support Vietnam in the country’s progress towards sustainable development./.

According to VOV.VN