Vietnamese Deputy Foreign Minister Nguyen Thanh Son, Chairman of the Vietnam National UNESCO Committee, made the affirmation at a discussion of the ongoing 36 th session of the UNESCO General Assembly in Paris on October 27.
He stated that the economic recession plus tensions and conflicts happening in the world are posing challenges to the UNESCO’s development and threats to the accomplishment of Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).
The Deputy FM emphasised the role of education, cooperation and peace-building efforts for world stability and development. He applauded the UNESCO’s budget priorities given to education.
Vietnam always supports and speeds up educational programmes, including the “Education for All”, the “UN Decade of Education for Sustainable Development 2005-2014” and the “UN Literacy Decade 2003-2012,” he stressed.
At present, the Vietnamese Government is carrying out the National Education for All Action Plan 2003-2015, building a learning society and developing a network of community learning centres, he said.
Vietnam is actively implementing literacy projects in disadvantages areas in the 2009-2012 period, he added.
Son affirmed that Vietnam is ready to share its educational experience and wishes to receive the UNESCO’s continued support for developing countries to achieve the MDGs.
According to the diplomat, Vietnam applauds the role of the UNESCO in preserving and promoting world tangible and intangible heritages. He said that heritage policies cannot be apart from sustainable development goal.
Son also stressed Vietnam ’s consistent policy of supporting the initiative of cultural diversity and affirming the cultural equality right of nations, considering it a foundation for the peaceful and stable development of the world.
He reiterated Vietnam ’s support for UNESCO efforts to contribute to the world’s peace and development and its commitment to actively participating in the organisation’s programmes.
Later on the day, the Vietnamese Deputy FM met with UNESCO Director-General Irina Bokova./.
Vietnam hopes the Australian House of Representatives under the leadership of Speaker Anna Burke will pave the way for Australian businesses to pour investment into Vietnam and Ho Chi Minh City in particular.
A conference on cooperation in investment, trade and tourism promotion between the Central Highlands province of Kon Tum and Thailand’s four northeast provinces was held in Kon Tum city on May 24.