Ha Long Bay – Yen Tu World Heritage Management Board 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, the 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.
The participation of the Management Board in this important international event reflects its commitment to strengthening professional exchanges and fostering international cooperation in the conservation, management, and promotion of World Heritage values. It also provides an opportunity to share practical experience, enhance professional capacity, and keep abreast of emerging trends in World Heritage governance and sustainable heritage management.
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.
During the session, the Committee examines the state of conservation of World Heritage properties, decides on the inscription of new sites 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. He emphasized the importance 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 the aim of enhancing the effective implementation of the World Heritage Convention.
In his statement, Vietnam proposed three priority areas to strengthen international cooperation in World Heritage conservation:
Enhancing technical assistance, capacity-building, and professional training 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 from the Ha Long Bay – Yen Tu World Heritage Management Department in the 48th Session of the UNESCO World Heritage Committee demonstrates the Department's proactive engagement in international cooperation and integration in the field of World Heritage conservation. The session also provides a valuable opportunity for the Department to gain insights into emerging approaches to heritage governance, digital transformation, and sustainable development, thereby supporting the effective management, conservation, and promotion of the World Natural Heritage Site of Ha Long Bay and the Yen Tu World Heritage Site, while contributing to enhancing the international standing of Vietnam's World Heritage properties.
(Sources: UNESCO World Heritage Centre; Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Viet Nam)
Nguyễn Thật Sự