The Director-General receives the Certificate of Merit from the Socialist Republic of Viet Nam

• © UNESCO/A. Wheeler

On 5 October 2009, the Director-General of UNESCO, Mr Koïchiro Matsuura, was awarded with a “Bằng Khen” (certificate of merit), by the Socialist Republic of Viet Nam in recognition of his pivotal role in strengthening the cooperation between UNESCO and Viet Nam.

The Certificate of Merit was awarded following the Director-General’s bilateral meeting with Mr Nguyen Thien Nhan, Deputy Prime Minister of Education and Training from the Socialist Republic of Viet Nam, who is participating at the 35th session of UNESCO’s General Conference.

In their meeting, Mr Matsuura commended Viet Nam on its achievements with regards to education, which have been increasing along with the country’s economic progress. Furthermore, the Director-General congratulated the Deputy Prime Minister for the recent inscriptions of Quan-Ho Bac-Ninh folk songs on UNESCO’s Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity, and Ca Tru singing on UNESCO’s List of Intangible Heritage in Need of Urgent Safeguarding at the recent session of the Committee for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Heritage held in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates.

For his part, Deputy Prime Minister Nhan thanked Mr Matsuura for the efforts deployed to help preserve both material and intangible heritage, and particularly for his support given to the conservation of the ancient citadel of Thang Long, as well as to its nomination for inscription on the World Heritage List. Mr Nhan underscored that UNESCO’s reform process had been successful and that the Organization had become more effective and transparent under Mr Matsuura’s leadership.

The Minister expressed how much Viet Nam appreciated UNESCO’s support in the various fields of the Organization’s competence and informed Mr Matsuura that he is among “the best-known international figures” in the country. In this regard, and on behalf of the Prime Minister of Viet Nam, Mr Nguyen Tan Dzung, the Deputy Prime Minister awarded Mr Matsuura with a “Bằng Khen” in recognition for his outstanding contribution to the development and consolidation of a friendly and multi-faceted cooperation between UNESCO and Viet Nam.

• Author(s):Office of the Spokesperson
• Source:Flash Info N° 184-2009
• 07-10-2009