On the afternoon of June 27, at the Headquarters of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Vietnam, General Secretary Tô Lâm hosted a meeting with Ms. Audrey Azoulay, Director-General of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), during her official visit to Vietnam.
In a warm and cordial atmosphere, General Secretary Tô Lâm expressed his pleasure in welcoming Director-General Audrey Azoulay back to Vietnam following her first official visit in September 2022.
The General Secretary also shared his impression of the warm reception and substantive, effective discussions held with the Director-General during his visit to the UNESCO Headquarters in October 2024, which created fresh momentum to elevate the Vietnam–UNESCO partnership to a new level.
General Secretary Tô Lâm meets with UNESCO Director-General Audrey Azoulay – Photo: TTXVN
Over the past 80 years, UNESCO has increasingly affirmed its role and position as the “Intellectual House of Humanity,” dedicated to “building peace in the minds of men and women.” Within the global governance architecture, UNESCO has promoted multilateralism, and contributed to peace, security, and sustainable development worldwide, especially amid an increasingly complex and volatile international landscape.
General Secretary Tô Lâm extended his congratulations and highly appreciated the leadership of Ms. Audrey Azoulay over her two terms, which have strengthened UNESCO’s standing on the international stage, making it an active partner in key mechanisms such as the G7, G20, and the Summit of the Future. Vietnam welcomes and supports UNESCO’s Medium-Term Strategy for 2022–2029, its Transformational Strategy, and its priority cooperation initiatives and programs, especially in emerging areas such as artificial intelligence.
The General Secretary also expressed his deep appreciation for UNESCO’s valuable support and contributions — as well as the personal efforts of Ms. Audrey Azoulay — in assisting Vietnam over the years. With 72 titles recognized by UNESCO, spanning all provinces and cities across the country, these designations have become a significant resource for sustainable socio-economic development, improving local livelihoods, and preserving and promoting Vietnam’s cultural heritage and values, thereby contributing to the advancement of human civilization.
In his discussion with the UNESCO Director-General, General Secretary Tô Lâm emphasized that Vietnam is now entering a new era, aiming to realize its goal of becoming a high-income developed country by 2045.
Vietnam will continue to pursue deeper integration into the global political landscape, the world economy, and the shared human civilization, striving to make greater contributions to maintaining peace, stability, and development in the region and around the world.
The General Secretary affirmed that Vietnam always attaches great importance to multilateral cooperation and highly values the role of UNESCO, pledging to further promote its role as a proactive, responsible, and active member. Vietnam is committed to making constructive contributions to UNESCO’s efforts in its capacity as a member of key governing bodies, supporting the mission and collective work of the Organization.
The General Secretary also requested that UNESCO continue to support and assist Vietnam in its process of integration and development, especially in the fields of education, science, culture, and communication; provide policy advice, share best practices, and offer resource support to serve sustainable socio-economic development; and coordinate to help promote humanistic values and cultural values aligned with the interests of both UNESCO and Vietnam, thereby enhancing the value of Vietnam’s culture, heritage, and human potential.
The General Secretary emphasized the wish that UNESCO would remain a close companion and trusted partner of Vietnam, particularly in the preservation and promotion of heritage sites and UNESCO titles in Vietnam for sustainable development. He proposed that UNESCO continue to support the implementation of the Conservation and Promotion Dossier for the Thăng Long Imperial Citadel World Heritage Site — a sacred heritage of the nation; as well as the dossier on the Complex of Yen Tu-Vinh Nghiem-Con Son, Kiep Bac Monuments and Landscapes, so that it may be inscribed as a World Cultural Heritage Site by July 2025. In addition, the General Secretary highlighted other dossiers scheduled for consideration in 2025, including: the Dong Ho Folk Painting nominated as an Intangible Cultural Heritage in Need of Urgent Safeguarding; Ho Chi Minh City joining the UNESCO Creative Cities Network; and Hanoi joining the UNESCO Global Network of Learning Cities, among others.
For her part, UNESCO Director-General Audrey Azoulay expressed her pleasure and appreciation at meeting again with General Secretary Tô Lâm in Vietnam and highlighted nearly 50 years of cooperation with Vietnam. She acknowledged that Vietnam is among the most active members of UNESCO and affirmed that "the Vietnam–UNESCO partnership has never been as strong as it is today."
Audrey Azoulay thanked Vietnam for its strong support and commitment, and hoped that Vietnam would continue to make even greater contributions to UNESCO’s activities in particular and to the collective efforts of humanity. Vietnam’s holding of key positions in UNESCO’s governing bodies demonstrates the trust and confidence that UNESCO and other member states place in Vietnam’s contributions to the Organization’s work.
The Director-General also expressed her admiration for Vietnam’s recent socio-economic achievements, noting that Vietnam serves as a model that many countries can learn from.
General Secretary Tô Lâm meets with UNESCO Director-General Audrey Azoulay – Photo: TTXVN
She highly appreciated the vision and wise leadership of the Party and State of Vietnam, as demonstrated by recent major strategies and policies, including institutional reform; promotion of education, culture, science and technology; innovation; and digital transformation — all serving as key drivers for national development. Among the highlights she mentioned were: the policy of waiving tuition fees for all students at public schools starting from 2025; the development of strategies and action programs to advance digital transformation and artificial intelligence in Vietnam; and the policy to promote the private sector, including enabling private sector participation in UNESCO’s activities in Vietnam.
Audrey Azoulay emphasized that UNESCO’s inscription of Vietnam’s titles and heritage sites — most recently the Lạng Sơn Global Geopark and several Global Network of Learning Cities and Creative Cities — reflects the international community’s high regard for the cultural values of the Vietnamese nation. She noted that this recognition also aligns closely with Vietnam’s development trajectory in the coming period. It demonstrates deep respect for Vietnam’s efforts and commitment to enriching the heritage of human civilization and contributing to the collective endeavor of the international community.
Acknowledging Vietnam’s prominent role in heritage preservation and promotion, the UNESCO Director-General affirmed that it is precisely the delicate safeguarding of cultural, historical, and traditional values amid modernization that has shaped Vietnam’s unique identity and enduring appeal on the international stage. She reaffirmed that UNESCO will continue to support and assist Vietnam in the nomination and sustainable conservation of world heritage sites, in promoting heritage values, and in developing cultural and creative industries in the years to come.
Source: Báo Điện Tử Chính phủ