Vietnam Named Vice President of UNESCO General Conference in Latest Development (Nov. 10)

Photo: VOV

Vietnam elected as vice president of UNESCO General Conference

Vietnam was elected as a vice president of the 42nd session of the UNESCO’s General Conference, with the event held on November 8 in Paris, with the country representing the Asia-Pacific region.

Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Ha Kim Ngoc, who is also chairman of the Vietnam National Commission for UNESCO, said the election affirms both the Party and State’s sound external policy of multilateralization, diversification, as well as comprehensive and effective international integration.

It also affirms the nation’s increasing prestige within the international arena, whilst also serving as a vivid illustration of the international community’s confidence in Vietnamese contributions to global multilateral mechanisms, he said, describing this as an outcome of the cultural diplomacy strategy towards 2030.

In this position, the nation will have greater chances to make positive and practical contributions to international issues of UNESCO’s interest; step up UNESCO’s programs and orientations across the five areas of education, culture, natural science, social science, and information and communications; and capitalize on UNESCO’ initiatives to develop the nation sustainably and comprehensively, Deputy Minister Ngoc said.

Through this election, for the first time the country is taking on the roles at four key mechanisms of UNESCO simultaneously, including being a member of the UNESCO Executive Board, being vice chair of the UNESCO Intergovernmental Committee of the 2005 Convention on the Protection and Promotion of the Diversity of Cultural Expressions for the 2021 to 2025 tenure, and member of the UNESCO Intergovernmental Committee of the 2003 Convention for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage, cited VOV.

They will provide opportunities for the nation to become more involved in the formation of policies and import decisions of the group, Deputy Minister Ngoc stated.

As part of the occasion, the Deputy FM held a host of working sessions with some UNESCO leaders and heads of delegations of several countries in a bid to strengthen bilateral and multilateral ties.

During the meetings, UNESCO leaders highly appreciated the Vietnamese Government’s interest in the organization and thanked the country for its growing contribution to carrying out activities in a variety of fields run by UNESCO, outlining its important roles and responsibilities in key mechanisms of the organization.

They voiced their hope that the country will successfully run to become a member of the World Heritage Committee for the 2023 to 2027 term.

Vietnam, Ghana to forge multi-faceted cooperation

Ambassador Dang Hoang Giang, Permanent Representative of Vietnam to the United Nations (UN), and his Ghanaian counterpart Harold Agyeman have compared notes on the relations between the two countries, particularly their cooperation at the UN.

At the November 8 working session, Giang stressed that the bilateral relationship has grown positively, adding Ghana is Vietnam’s largest trade partner in West Africa, especially in rice trading.

The two shared the view that ample room remains for the two countries to enhance multifaceted cooperation in trade and investment, as well as other potential areas like renewable and clean energy, according to VNA.

Ambassador Dang Hoang Giang (L), Permanent Representative of Vietnam to the United Nations (UN), and his Ghanaian counterpart Harold Agyeman. (Photo: VNA)

The Ghanaian side stands ready to work as a gateway for Vietnam to access the West African market, while Vietnam will also help Ghana expand cooperation with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).

At the UN, the two missions will promote their multilateral collaboration in the issues of common concern, and work together to seek solutions to current global challenges.

Vietnam and Ghana established diplomatic ties on March 25, 1965.

Vietnam, Germany step up legal affairs collaboration

Representatives from the Vietnamese Ministry of National Defence’s Department of Legal Affairs and the German Ministry of Defence’s Directorate-General for Legal Affairs held talks on November 8 in Hanoi as part of efforts to discuss measures to step up bilateral ties.

Both sides compared notes on issues related to the building and perfection of the military and defense legal systems of the two countries; as well as the development of several legal documents on military affairs, national defense, UN peacekeeping, and civil defense, VOV reported.

At the talks between representatives from the Vietnamese Ministry of National Defence’s Department of Legal Affairs and the German Ministry of Defence’s Directorate-General for Legal Affairs. (Photo: qdnd.vn)

Maj. Gen. Han Manh Thang, head of the Vietnamese department, briefed guests on the nation making military and defense laws with the goal of establishing a solid legal basis to implement military and defense tasks.

This is along with preventing and dealing with sabotage plots and activities carried out by hostile forces to protect the Fatherland’s independence, sovereignty, unity, territorial integrity, citizens, the Party, the State, and the socialist regime.

Stefan Sohm, deputy head of the Directorate-General for Legal Affairs, shared experience in participating in UN peacekeeping activities, as well as building a legal corridor for regional and world peace protection activities.

Both sides therefore agreed on the necessity of signing an international agreement at the defense ministerial level on co-operation in military and defense legal affairs.

They pledged to continue strengthening delegation exchanges, information sharing, and human resources training.

Vietnamese e-sports teams to compete at ASIAD 19’s demonstration events

Vietnam’s e-sports teams will compete in two demonstration events, namely AIES Robot Sports – Ultimate Battle Robots and AIES XR Sports – Steelraid in Hangzhou city of China on November 11 and 12 within the framework of the 19th Asian Games (ASIAD 19), according to the Vietnam Recreational and Electronic Sports Association (VIRESA).

The two events are jointly organized by MIGU, a subsidiary company of China Mobile Communications Group and the Asian Electronic Sports Federation (AESF). They aim to help the public understand more about how digital technology can seamlessly integrate with traditional sports, opening up new perspectives on a different aspect of eSports, according to the organizers.

Seven countries and territories will participate in the competition, including Vietnam, China, Hong Kong (China), Thailand, Tajikistan, Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan, cited VNA.

Illustrative image. (Photo courtesy of the organisers)

All five Vietnamese representatives competing in the AIES Robot Sports event come from Lac Hong University, one of the universities with many remarkable achievements in competitions related to technology and Robotics. The university triumphed at the ABU Asia-Pacific Robo Contest three times, won the first prize at Vietnam Robot Contest (Robocon Vietnam ) nine times and other technology and science and innovation awards.

Five Vietnamese representatives at AIES XR Sports are members of Holomia virtual reality technology team with a lot of experience. They will compete with rivals from China, Hong Kong (China), Thailand, Tajikistan, Kazakhstan, and Kyrgyzstan.

Vietnamese culture introduced in France: Vietnam Day in France 2023

From November 8-9, the program Vietnam Days in France 2023 is underway in the Vietnamese Cultural Centre in Paris as part of activities to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the diplomatic ties and 10 years of the strategic partnership between the two countries.

According to the Department of Cultural Diplomacy and UNESCO under the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the event aims to promote the country’s images of land and people, beauty, hospitality and dynamic development, and unique culture to the Vietnamese community abroad and international friends. It is expected to contribute to deepening the Vietnam – France relations.

The program comprises an art performance and a Vietnamese cultural space in France, cited MOFA.

Vietnamese culture was introduced in France.

The art program themed “Colors of Vietnam” features Vietnamese traditional arts such as Vi Giam folk singing, southern folk songs, Champa dance and lion-dragon dance, and an Ao Dai (long dress) show.

Meanwhile, 25 engraved lacquer works spotlighting French architectural imprints in Hanoi are on display at the Vietnamese cultural space.

The event offers visitors an opportunity to join cultural interaction activities such as playing Vietnamese traditional instruments, making To he (toy figurines), printing Dong Ho paintings, and trying traditional costumes from the Nguyen Dynasty (1802-1945).