World Conference on Cultural Policy and Sustainable Development: Culture as a pillar of global sustainable development

From September 29 to October 1, 2025, in Barcelona (Spain), the World Conference on Cultural Policy and Sustainable Development (MONDIACULT 2025) chaired by UNESCO officially opened with the participation of Ministers and cultural leaders from member countries.

The Vietnamese delegation was led by Party Central Committee member and Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Nguyen Van Hung.

Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Nguyen Van Hung led the Vietnamese delegation to attend the event.

The World Conference on Cultural Policy and Sustainable Development is an important global forum to reaffirm the central role of culture in sustainable development and to set strategic directions for the post-2030 period.

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The plenary session opened solemnly with the speech of Mr. Ernesto Ottone R., Assistant Director-General of UNESCO in charge of Culture. The Conference adopted the working regulations, elected the President, Vice-Presidents and Rapporteurs, and approved the official agenda. The European Union and many international organizations affirmed their continued support for the MONDACULT process, demonstrating their determination to promote culture as a driving force for development.

With the central message: "There is no future without culture", delegates unanimously affirmed that culture is a basic human right, a global public good and an indispensable pillar to build a fair, peaceful , inclusive and sustainable society. In particular, the Ministers of Culture called for making culture a stand-alone goal in the United Nations development framework after 2030, instead of just an integrated factor as before.

The Outcome Document of the Conference identified nine key areas for global cultural policy in the coming period: Cultural rights as human rights; Culture and education; Cultural economy and sustainable work; Culture for peace; Culture, heritage and climate action; Culture and crisis; Digital transformation and equitable access; Artificial intelligence (AI) and culture. Cultural data and research.

Delegates take souvenir photos at the event.

Compared to MONDACULT 2022, the 2025 document has added two new pillars, "Culture for Peace" and " AI and Culture" , and emphasized the construction of a global cultural index framework to accurately measure the contribution of culture to development. This is considered an institutional step forward, linking culture directly to global security, technology and data issues.

At the end of the conference, the Ministers and cultural authorities reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening multilateralism, mobilizing policies, resources and cooperation mechanisms to make culture a pillar of international cooperation and sustainable development in the new era.

Source: https://bvhttdl.gov.vn/hoi-nghi-the-gioi-ve-chinh-sach-van-hoa-va-phat-trien-ben-vung-van-hoa-la-tru-cot-cua-phat-trien-ben-vung-toan-cau-20250929214101881.htm