Speaking to the 37th General Assembly of the United NationsEducational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) in Parison November 8, Son said Vietnam will stand side by side with UNESCOby hosting major events at regional level in the coming time.
He also noted Vietnam’s efforts in education reform, with 20 percentof State budget is allocated for education each year. The countrycompleted the universalization of secondary education and is on track touniversalize high school education.
As part of the UNESCO’sEducation for All (EFA) and the 2005-2014 Decade for Education forSustainable Development (ESD) schemes, Vietnam is actively rollingout its National Action Plan for All for the 2013-2015 period whilebuilding a learning society and a network of community study centres.
Referring to culture, he said Vietnam highly values UNESCO’srole in preserving and upholding world’s tangible and intangibleheritages.
Vietnam celebrated the 40 th anniversary ofthe Convention Concerning the Protection of the World Cultural andNatural Heritage in Ninh Binh province in September, 2012 and the 10thanniversary of the Convention for the Safeguarding of the IntangibleCultural Heritage in Quang Nam province this June. Son said theevents manifest Vietnam’s high-level commitments to popularising theconventions among localities.
As regards to ASEAN - UNESCOcooperation, the Deputy Minister said Vietnam applauds the signing of acooperation framework agreement, adding that it is an important legalfoundation for their closer links to support the realisation of theASEAN Community’s socio-economic pillar by 2015.
Receiving Sonthe same day, Bokava praised Vietnam for its active and effectivecontributions as a member of the UNESCO Executive Board for the2009-2013 tenure, which according to her, have offered its membersvaluable cooperation lessons.
She also hailed Vietnam ’s suggestions to support the body in overcoming existing difficulties.-VNA