On June 17, in the meeting with UNESCO Representative to Vietnam Christian Manhart, Deputy Secretary of the Hanoi Party Committee Nguyen Van Phong expressed his gratitude to UNESCO for cooperation and support for Vietnam in general and Hanoi in particular in the recent years, especially supporting Hanoi in building a profile to join UNESCO’s creative cities network.
Mentioning the outstanding historical and cultural features of the capital, Mr. Nguyen Van Phong said that Hanoi is a locality with a long history of cultural tradition, in which the number of ranked historical and cultural relics and traditional craft villages in Hanoi accounts for one third of the whole country. Hanoi is the city where 65% of intellectuals of the whole country live and work; and also having nearly 70% of universities, academies, colleges of the country…
Deputy Secretary of the Hanoi Party Committee Nguyen Van Phong working with UNESCO Representative to Vietnam Christian Manhart. Photo by Luong Toan
According to Deputy Secretary of the City Party Committee Nguyen Van Phong, Hanoi has concretized its commitments when participating in the creative cities network, with specific solutions both in the immediate and long term. First of all, the content of participating in creative cities network is included in the City’s development guidelines and orientations to 2030, with a vision to 2045; at the same time, identifying the development of cultural tourism and cultural industry based on the foundation of a creative city is an important task and solution for sustainable development of the city.
Along with that, the Hanoi Party Committee issued a Resolution on the development of cultural industry; The City People’s Committee issued a plan to implement commitments when participating in the creative cities network; organize events, expand creative spaces not only in inner city areas but also in suburban areas. Furthermore, the city also included in the investment plan the creative design center of Hanoi; and built the City’s creative talent TV program…
Considering that international cooperation in culture is not only a need of Hanoi, but also the world’s matter, Deputy Secretary of the City Party Committee Nguyen Van Phong wished that UNESCO shall help Hanoi in a number of fields, especially the implementation of Hanoi’s commitments when participating in the creative cities network; sharing experiences, providing experts and documents for Hanoi to host and successfully organize a forum of creative cities in 2023.
At the same time, Hanoi needs support in promoting the value of traditional craft villages; sharing experiences in mobilizing social resources to participate in cultural conservation activities, building a creative city; Support in planning, promoting the role of media in creative activities…
Deputy Secretary of the Hanoi Party Committee Nguyen Van Phong presenting a souvenir to the UNESCO Representative to Vietnam Christian Manhart. Photo by Luong Toan
Deputy Secretary of the City Party Committee Nguyen Van Phong hoped that UNESCO will support and assist Hanoi in promoting the value of cultural heritages, especially the Imperial Citadel of Thang Long. In which, UNESCO is expected to support Hanoi in co-organizing an international scientific conference to research and promote the values of Imperial Citadel of Thang Long expected to be held in September 2022; accompanying the City in researching and completing the project of preserving, embellishing, restoring and returning the space of Kinh Thien Palace; at the same time, sharing experiences in promoting heritage education programs for the young generation; training human resources in the field of culture, etc.
Appreciating the sharing of Deputy Secretary of the City Party Committee Nguyen Van Phong, Mr. Christian Manhart highly agreed with the cooperation contents of Hanoi city and affirmed that this is also the desire of UNESCO in turning culture into a driving force for sustainable development.
To well implement those contents, Mr. Christian Manhart hoped that Hanoi would send a focal point to connect with UNESCO and international organizations in implementing commitments when participating in the creative cities network. The UNESCO representative to Vietnam also affirmed that he will work closely with Hanoi in protecting and promoting the global value of the Imperial Citadel of Thang Long.
Hoang Phuc