On September 4, at the United Nations Headquarters in New York, the 80th session of the United Nations General Assembly adopted the Resolution launching the "International Decade for Culture for Sustainable Development", declaring the period 2027-2036 as the International Decade for Culture for Sustainable Development.
This is an initiative initiated by Vietnam, marking an important step forward in efforts to promote culture to become an essential driving force for sustainable development globally.
The initiative is the result of Vietnam's active preparation, consultation and advocacy at UNESCO and the United Nations. In the UNESCO phase, Vietnam's proposal received co-authoring and support from 72 member countries.
At the United Nations stage, by the time of adoption, the Resolution was co-sponsored by Vietnam and 102 countries from many geographical regions and different levels of development.
The initiative received co-authoring and widespread support at UNESCO, and then continued to receive widespread co-sponsorship at the United Nations, showing that culture for sustainable development is in line with the common concerns of the international community; while affirming Vietnam's position, prestige and proactive role in contributing initiatives at multilateral forums, as well as the effectiveness of the process of active exchange, consultation and advocacy to gather support and build international consensus.
The adoption of the Initiative is of special significance to Vietnam. This is the first initiative of the largest scale initiated by Vietnam at UNESCO after many years of participating in the Organization, continuing to affirm the foreign policy of independence, self-reliance, multilateralization, diversification and the policy of raising the level of multilateral foreign affairs.
This success shows that Vietnam is not only an active and responsible member of the international community but also actively participates in shaping agendas, contributing practical ideas for the common benefit of humanity.
Vietnam's proposal and promotion of the Initiative is also a practical action contributing to the synchronous implementation of the Party's major orientations; thereby, closely connecting Vietnam's development priorities with the common efforts of the international community, promoting Vietnam's cultural, intellectual and creative strengths in the process of deep integration.
As the initiating country, Vietnam will continue to closely coordinate with UNESCO, United Nations agencies, member states and related partners in the process of developing the Action Plan and implementing the Decade.
Vietnam wishes to join the international community in turning political commitments into specific programs and activities, promoting culture to truly become an endogenous resource, a driving force for innovation and a bridge of cooperation for peace and sustainable development.
