Ninh Binh expects more assistance from UNESCO in heritage preservation

At a working session with Chief Representative of UNESCO in Vietnam Jonathan Baker on January 19, Huan emphasised UNESCO's important role in the province's socio-economic development in the past years, elaborating with the UNESCO recognition since 2014, the Trang An complex has helped to promote Ninh Binh's economic restructuring and tourism development.

Ninh Binh is striving to build a millennium urban heritage site and a creative city with outstanding values, he said, adding as a wide range of challenges have been recognised in the work, including the preservation and promotion of heritage values, climate change and urbanisation, the province hoped to receive further support from UNESCO to mobilise international resources in archeological and biodiversity research, and projects to develop and pilot advanced preservation measures.
 

Ninh Binh also expects to receive assistance from and close coordination with UNESCO to build a UNESCO charter or declaration on the Trang An landscape complex, he added.

Over the past decade, the heritage site's values have been well preserved, making it a centre to enhance cultural exchanges, attract investment, and develop sustainable tourism, he underscored, saying the site has created livelihoods for local residents and become a role model in sustainable economic and tourism development in tandem with the protection of the environment and cultural values.

Huan took this occasion to thank UNESCO and its office in Hanoi for accompanying the province to nudge Trang An closer to the world, and expressed his hope that Baker will have a successful tenure in Vietnam, helping to strengthen the cooperation between UNESCO and Vietnam as well as its localities, including Ninh Binh.

Baker expressed his impression of Ninh Binh's achievements and spoke highly of the province's strategy to turn itself into a millennium urban heritage site amidst climate change challenges that have adverse impacts on heritage sites.

While pledging to provide more support for Ninh Binh in the coming time, Baker said UNESCO Vietnam will organise international cooperation forums, helping localities with striking similarities share preservation experiences with each other.

UNESCO stands ready to back Ninh Binh to join in the global network of heritage cities and towns, and successfully hold a celebration to mark 10 years since the Trang An Scenic Landscape Complex earned the UNESCO recognition as the world's cultural and natural heritage site, he added.

Translated by Nguyen Thuy