Ambassador Le Thi Hong Van, head of the Permanent Delegation of Vietnam to UNESCO speaks at a plenary session of the UNESCO General Assembly (Photo:VNA)

The election also recognizes the active Vietnamese contributions to UNESCO and its efforts to promote the role of culture and creativity as part of sustainable, inclusive, and resilient development, she noted.

The 16th session ran from February 7 to February 10 in Paris, France, and brought together nearly 400 delegates and observers from all member nations and nearly 100 other countries, international, and cultural organizations.

During the course of the event, member countries applauded Vietnamese policies and practical measures aimed at optimising the role of culture as an endogenous strength and a driving force for sustainable development. This is along with protecting and promoting the diversity of cultural expressions in the context of culture and creativity being heavily impacted by the pandemic, globalization, and digitization.

They also welcomed the country’s efforts to develop a national cultural index for sustainable development and its creative cities network.

In its new position, the nation will have favourable conditions to further contribute to the implementation of the 2005 Convention’s goals and priorities, as well as taking advantage of its knowledge, experience, and external resources for its cultural and sustainable development in the new period, Van said.

The 2005 Convention was adopted on October 20, 2005, and has so far been ratified by 152 countries. Vietnam was first elected as vice chair of the committee during the 2011 to 2015 tenure.