(VOV/VOVworld) – Vietnam will continue its cooperation with UNESCO and considers UNESCO members’ efforts the driving force for growth. Deputy Foreign Minister Nguyen Thanh Son, President of the Viet Nam National Commission for UNESCO and Head of the Vietnam’s delegation was speaking at the UNESCO Executive Board’s 190^th session in Paris on Monday.

UNESCO Executive Board's 190th session (Photo: VOV)

The three-day meeting focuses on reforms to save budget under financial difficulties and medium and long term budget strategy. At the session Son said Vietnam appreciated UNESCO giving its top priority to education and advocates its initiatives and attempts to meet the program’s targets by 2015. He added that UNESCO recognitions have left positive impacts on local socio-economic development in addition to raise people’s awareness on heritage preservation and promotion. In terms of science and information, Son said that Vietnam hails the Man and the Biosphere (MAB) Program, the Memory of the World Program, and the Global Geoparks Network, initiated by UNESCO: "UNESCO has launched many significant renewals, notably its Director-General’s initiatives. Vietnam acknowledges the organization’s current challenges and has proposed our initiatives of UNESCO operations at country level. UNESCO activities have proven their effectiveness in uniting different nations while promoting its member’s sustainable development with Vietnam being an example".

In addition to taking part in the UNESCO Executive Board’s 190^th session, Son will meet with overseas Vietnamese living in France.

Thuy Van, VOV correspondent in France