UNESCO lays the groundwork for closer collaboration with Ho Chi Minh City

Within the span of her four-day visit to Viet Nam, Ms Bokova's meeting with H.E. Mr Nguyen Thien Nhan highlighted the progress of UNESCO and Viet Nam's fruitful collaboration over the years, and set the pace for advancing UNESCO's work in Ho Chi Minh City and the south of Viet Nam. In doing so, Mr Nhan highlighted some of the social challenges that have accompanied rapid economic growth, and requested that UNESCO collaborate with city authorities to elaborate appropriate responses in these areas as well as with regard to the impact of climate change.

The Director-General took note of these concerns and promised subsequent follow up by the UNESCO Ha Noi Office in collaboration with relevant UNESCO Regional Offices and Institutes. In the light of Viet Nam's National Strategy for the Development of Cultural Industries in Viet Nam toward 2020, Ms Bokova invited Ho Chi Minh City to participate in UNESCO's Creative Cities Network, contributing to the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the New Urban Agenda. She stated that the participation of Ho Chi Minh City has the potential to provide a strategic push to the wider national development of cultural industries on the basis of creativity and innovation and science and technology, making the most of economic factors of cultural values.

Prior to the meeting, Ms Bokova toured the extensive complex of Cu Chi Tunnels that is a lasting symbol of Viet Nam's determination and resilience during times of struggle for national independence and reunification. She and the UNESCO delegation also visited both the Reunification Palace and the Ho Chi Minh Museum, where the Director-General paid tribute to the remarkable achievements of the founding father of modern Viet Nam whose 100th birth anniversary was celebrated by UNESCO in 1990 with a special resolution.

For more information, please contact

• Ms. Christine Hanna, Communications and Reporting Officer, UNESCO Ha Noi Office, at c.hanna(at)unesco.org, +84 02438500186