The 8th Asia Pacific Geoparks Network Symposium opens in Cao Bang (Photo: toquoc.vn)

Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Bui Thanh Son stressed the need for greater efforts and closer and more effective cooperation as the international community advances the 2030 Agenda.

According to Son, the progress towards achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) is slowing down and, in some cases, even regressing. He said the devastating consequences of extreme natural disasters such as earthquakes, floods, landslides, heatwaves, and droughts, with unprecedented frequency, scale, and impacts, are impeding efforts to improve people's quality of life and achieve sustainable and inclusive socio-economic development. Without effective solutions to these challenges, humanity's achievements in development are at risk of being reversed, he stressed.

Stressing that Global Geoparks are indeed a "solution" to this global issue, Son reiterated a message by UNESCO Director-General Audrey Azoulay at the 2022 International Geodiversity Day that “understanding geological processes is therefore essential to explore the past, enjoy the present and prepare for an unpredictable future”..

On this occasion, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Bui Thanh Son and delegates cut the ribbon to inaugurate the Ethnic Cultural Space and the Global Geoparks booth. The conference will close on September 15.