ASEAN creative cities share sustainable development initiatives
The ASEAN’s UNESCO Creative Cities Network Conference in Hanoi took place at Hanoi Museum on November 18 with a focus on urban regeneration and sustainable development.
The ASEAN’s UNESCO Creative Cities Network Conference in Hanoi takes place on November 18. (Photo: VNA)
Hanoi (VNA) – The ASEAN’s UNESCO Creative Cities Network Conference inHanoi took place at Hanoi Museum on November 18 with a focus on urban regenerationand sustainable development.
The event,held by the Hanoi Department of Culture and Sports in coordination with theUNESCO Office in the city and the UN HumanSettlements Programme (UN-Habitat), was attended by over100 Vietnamese delegates and 20 foreign ones from member cities of the network inASEAN and the Asian cities cooperating with Hanoi.
It underlined the importance of culture and creation to urban development andlife quality in ASEAN countries. Participants also discussed the solutions thatthe network member cities in the ASEAN Plus 3 region can take to capitalise on theresources of culture and creation in the face of many urban issues caused by rapidurbanisation and climate change.
At the conference, Hanoi shared its new development orientation and cooperationpotential and opportunities in the field of design. It said that becoming amember of the UNESCO Creative Cities Network was a step for the city toestablish its brand, popularise its image in all fields of cultural creation,and join the group of global cities with innovation-oriented development that matchesthe UN’s 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.
Representatives from ASEAN countries and others in Asia also shared initiativesto make use of national resources for creation and urban development when theircities became members of the network. They discussed city-level cooperationopportunities to work towards sustainable development in the region.
Pham Thi Thanh Huong, head of the culture division at the UNESCO Office inHanoi, said not only setting targets, UNESCO has also been promoting sharingamong network members to turn cities into good living environments for residents.
UNESCO hopes that contributions by network members will be further expanded,and the cities will carry out different initiatives, share with other members,mobilise public and private resources, and connect experts and creators fromlocal to international levels, she added.
The ASEAN’sUNESCO Creative Cities Network Conference in Hanoi aimed to provide an occasionfor ASEAN countries to learn experience in cultural resources and creation fromone another. It also encouraged cities in the bloc to become members of the network.
The eventwas also part of Hanoi’s actions since it joined the network in late 2019.
The UNESCO CreativeCities Network, founded in 2004, aims to enhance cooperationamong the recognised cities with creativity considered a strategic factor ofsustainable development./.
Two additional cities in Vietnam have been designated recently as UNESCO Creative Cities - Da Lat in the Central Highlands’ province of Lam Dong in term of music and Hoi An ancient town in the central province of Quang Nam in crafts and folk art. Vietnam now has three cities in the UNESCO Creative Cities Network (UCCN).
The Hanoi Creative Design Festival 2023, with a string of activities slated for November 17 – 26, is expected to bring true values to the community, which is considered the centre and the subject of innovative activities.
With 60 events and activities, the Hanoi Creative Design Festival 2023 is expected to become a platform for exchange and display of creative activities in various areas from November 17-26.
Hanoi’s Hang Dau water tower, built in 1894 during the French colonial period, has been made the venue of an exhibition on water art installation which opened for the public on November 17, drawing a large number of visitors who are interested in exploring the historical relic with special architecture.
Vietnam has achieved many remarkable results, such as the smoking rate among adults decreased from 23.8% in 2010 to 20.8% in 2021. The rate of exposure to secondhand smoke decreased from 73.1% to 45.6%.
More than half a century after the war, millions of unexploded bombs and mines remain buried underground, threatening lives and hindering development in many localities.
According to the indictment, during the execution of various projects and procurement packages across the provinces of Vinh Phuc, Quang Ngai, and Phu Tho, Phuc Son Group's Chairman and General Director Nguyen Van Hau, who is also Chairman of the Thang Long investment, trade and real estate JSC, either personally committed, directed subordinates, or worked with partner entities to carry out unlawful activities related bidding and accounting procedures.
According to Ben Tre authorities, the province will continue to strengthen IUU fishing prevention by enforcing central directives and enhancing public awareness and compliance among local fishing communities.
Trial operations at the new public administrative service centres in Thanh Khe and Ngu Hanh Son wards show that the reception and processing of citizens' documents on the new wards’ data system have been smoothly handled by the staff, enabling quick settlement and facilitating easy access to public services for the people.
The event, the 12th of its kind jointly, was jointly organised by the Vietnamese Embassy in Belgium and Chris Geyskens, Chairwoman of the Belgium chapter of the Hoi An – Vietnam Association for Victims of AO/Dioxin.
The Nguyen Du Lao-Vietnamese bilingual school has positioned itself as a prestigious education establishment, nurturing generations of Vietnamese and Lao students while preserving Vietnamese culture and language as well as strengthening the special bonds between the two countries
For households of people with meritorious service and relatives of fallen soldiers, the province supported the construction and renovation of 2,374 houses, achieving 100% of the set target, 342 newly built and 2,032 renovated.
Held under the theme “Pride and Aspiration”, this year's “Glory to Vietnam” programme aimed to inspire the Vietnamese people's ambition to reach new heights during the era of integration and development.
According to the Central Committee of the Vietnam Red Cross Society (VRC), this year’s campaign provided long-term aid for 3,785 individuals and organisations. Support included houses, clean water systems, school meal facilities, books, and livelihood assistance, with a total value of more than 118 billion VND.
The programmes have brought about positive changes to rural infrastructure, comprehensively improved the material and spiritual lives of farmers, and contributed to Vietnam's economic restructuring, said PM Pham Minh Chinh.
The festival highlighted the contributions and robust development of Vietnam's revolutionary press over the past century while promoting press products and showcasing the creativity of Vietnamese journalists.
The programme on sustainable poverty reduction has achieved its annual targets for reducing the poverty rate as assigned by the National Assembly and the Government. It has fulfilled five specific objectives and five five-year goals, and met nine out of 12 indicators related to addressing basic social service shortages.
UNICEF stands ready to support the Government in implementing this important law and in continuing to invest in teachers as the cornerstone of a resilient, inclusive, and high-quality education system for all children.
PM Pham Minh Chinh highlighted how Vietnam's revolutionary press has continuously evolved and strengthened over the past century, affirming its role as a sharp and vital political, cultural, and ideological weapon serving the Fatherland and the people in the glorious revolutionary cause of the Party.
Vietnamese Consul General in Fukuoka Vu Chi Mai highlighted the growing demand for Vietnamese workers in Kyushu, especially in Fukuoka, Oita, and Saga prefectures. Currently, the region employs about 35,000 Vietnamese manual workers and over 5,000 IT engineers.
In Vietnam’s case, she said, President Ho Chi Minh demonstrated his strategic vision by founding the revolutionary press a century ago. The late leader understood the press's role not only as a means to reflect the country’s realities but also as a powerful tool to strengthen national unity and inspire the resistance wars and national construction process.
In recent interviews granted to the Vietnam News Agency (VNA)'s reporters in Mexico, prominent figures reflected on the press’s legacy and its global influence.
VietnamPlus e-newspaper of the VNA clinched an A prize in the “Outstanding Press Product” category for its immersive 3D multimedia project, “Epic of Reunification,” a groundbreaking blend of storytelling and technology. The VNA won another A prize for its eye-catching exhibition booth.
Today, the press for foreign service has evolved into a distinct, irreplaceable force, bridging Vietnam with the world and portraying a nation that is stable, peace-loving, and fully integrated into the international community.
The ASEAN’s UNESCO Creative Cities Network Conference in Hanoi takes place on November 18. (Photo: VNA) 
