Organización de las Naciones Unidas para la Educación, la Ciencia y la Cultura Organización de las Naciones Unidas para la Educación, la Ciencia y la CulturaThe above regional consultation, the second of the series, was opened in the morning of Saturday 16 June 2012 in Thanh Hoa, Viet Nam.
Mr Nguyen Thanh Son, President of the Viet Nam National Commission for UNESCO and First Vice-Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr Vuong Van Viet, Vice President of Thanh Hoa Provincial People’s Committee and Mr Eric Falt, Representative of the Director-General of UNESCO, Assistant Director-General for External Relations and Public Information attended the opening session and made welcoming addresses.
The importance of National Commissions and their active contribution to the preparation of UNESCO's next 8-year Medium Term Strategy (2014-2021) and 4-year Programme and Budget (2014-2017) were highlighted.
30 Member States and National Commissions in the Asia and Pacific region attended this 3-day regional gathering.
A final report containing recommendations for future strategy and programme will be produced at the end of this consultation meeting and submitted to UNESCO Director-General and the Executive Board for consideration.
On 15 June, prior to this regional consultation, the Viet Nam National Commission and the participating National Commissions in the region celebrated together the 35th anniversary of the establishment of the VN National Commission in Hanoi, in which leaders of the host country, including the Vice President and Vice Prime Minister of Viet Nam took part. On this occasion, Mme Irina Bokova, the Director-General of UNESCO, sent a congratulating message, which was read by her representative, Mr Eric Falt, Assistant Director-General for External relations and Public Information.