This was Vietnam’s inaugural session as a committee member for the 2023-2027 term. In his opening address, the Vietnamese official paid tribute to the late General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong, highlighting his vision of culture as the spiritual bedrock of society—a driving force for national development.
Vietnam remains committed to the effective implementation of the World Heritage Convention. Ngoc affirmed the country’s focus on conserving and promoting its eight World Heritage sites, cooperating with the World Heritage Centre and advisory bodies, and integrating the convention into its legal framework and socio-economic policies. He pledged contributions to the World Heritage Fund and urged continued international cooperation, experience sharing, and community engagement in this endeavor.
Vishal V. Sharma, Chairperson of the World Heritage Committee, expressed deep condolences on behalf of over 2,000 delegates from 150+ countries. Earlier, the Vietnamese official met with Lazare Eloundou Assomo, Director of the UNESCO World Heritage Centre, thanking him for Vietnam’s support. Assomo praised Vietnam’s contributions to heritage conservation and promotion, encouraging the country to share its expertise with other UNESCO members. The World Heritage Centre pledged ongoing support for Vietnam’s efforts to preserve and promote its World Heritage sites.
The committee, a key UNESCO executive body, holds significant influence over World Heritage site recognition and policy. During this 11-day session, delegates are reviewing 27 new site nominations and 124 proposals focused on heritage conservation and promotion.