Ha Long Bay – Yen Tu World Heritage Management Department Participates in the 48th Session of the UNESCO World Heritage Committee
Within the framework of the 48th Session of the UNESCO World Heritage Committee, held in Busan, Republic of Korea, the Ha Long Bay – Yen Tu World Heritage Management Board appointed Mr. Pham Dinh Huynh, Deputy Director of the Management Board, to join the Vietnamese Delegation attending the session. His participation in this important international event reflects the Board's commitment to strengthening professional exchanges and promoting international cooperation in the conservation, management, and promotion of World Heritage values.
The 48th Session of the UNESCO World Heritage Committee is being held at the Busan Exhibition and Convention Center (BEXCO) in Busan, Republic of Korea, from 19 to 29 July 2026, bringing together representatives of the States Parties to the World Heritage Convention, UNESCO's Advisory Bodies—ICOMOS, IUCN, and ICCROM—as well as numerous international heritage experts. Throughout the session, the Committee examines the State of Conservation of World Heritage properties, decides on the inscription of new properties on the UNESCO World Heritage List, and discusses a wide range of important issues related to the conservation, management, and promotion of World Heritage values worldwide.
At the plenary session on 20 July, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Ngo Le Van, Chairman of the Vietnam National Commission for UNESCO, delivered a statement on behalf of the Vietnamese Delegation. In his remarks, he emphasized the vital role of international cooperation in effectively safeguarding the shared heritage of humanity and expressed Vietnam's support for the spirit of the Busan Declaration on World Heritage, with a view to enhancing the effective implementation of the World Heritage Convention.
In his statement, Vietnam proposed three priority areas for strengthening international cooperation in World Heritage conservation:
- Enhancing technical assistance, training, and capacity-building for States Parties, particularly developing countries;
- Promoting science-based conservation that balances heritage protection with sustainable development while placing local communities at the center of conservation efforts;
- Strengthening synergies among international conventions and promoting the responsible application of digital technologies and artificial intelligence in the management, conservation, and promotion of World Heritage values.
The participation of a representative of the Ha Long Bay – Yen Tu World Heritage Management Board in the 48th Session of the UNESCO World Heritage Committee reaffirms the Board's proactive engagement in international cooperation and integration in the field of World Heritage conservation. The session also provides a valuable opportunity for the Board to gain insights into emerging trends in heritage governance, digital transformation, and sustainable development, enabling the effective application of international best practices to the management, conservation, and promotion of the World Natural Heritage property of Ha Long Bay and the Yen Tu World Heritage property, thereby contributing to enhancing the global profile of Viet Nam's World Heritage properties.
Source: UNESCO World Heritage Centre; Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Viet Nam.
Huy Hoang