International scientific conference Promoting the role of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage value of Trang An Scenic Landscape Complex in building a Millennium Heritage City and connecting world heritage cities

On the morning of April 27, the People's Committee of Ninh Binh province coordinated with the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, the Vietnam National Commission for UNESCO to organize the International Scientific Conference "Promoting the role and value of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage of Trang An Scenic Landscape Complex in building a Millennium Heritage City and connecting world heritage cities" to honor the values of the Heritage, evaluate the outstanding achievements in the past 10 years, and at the same time determine the role, position and importance of the Heritage for the strategic orientations of Ninh Binh province in the coming time. That is to build Ninh Binh into a centrally-run city with the characteristics of a Millennium Heritage City and connect world heritage cities based on the pillars of tourism, cultural industry, heritage economy , harmoniously combining the restoration, conservation, promotion of heritage and green growth, towards sustainable development.

Attending the workshop were comrades: Hoang Dao Cuong, Deputy Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism; Pham Thanh Binh, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs ; Ms. Le Thi Hong Van, Secretary General of the Vietnam National Commission for UNESCO; Mr. Ha Van Sieu, Deputy Director of the Vietnam National Administration of Tourism.

On the side of the United Nations Educational , Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), there were Mr. Jonathan Wallace Baker, Chief Representative of UNESCO Office in Vietnam; representatives of the UNESCO World Heritage Center; UNESCO Office in Hanoi; domestic and international experts and scientists.

International scientific conference Promoting the role of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage value of Trang An Scenic Landscape Complex in building a Millennium Heritage City and connecting world heritage cities — Delegates attending the Conference.

On the side of Ninh Binh province, there were comrades: Mai Van Tuat, Standing Deputy Secretary of the Provincial Party Committee, Chairman of the Provincial People's Council; Pham Quang Ngoc, Deputy Secretary of the Provincial Party Committee, Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee - Head of the Organizing Committee of activities celebrating the 10th anniversary of Trang An Scenic Landscape Complex being recognized by UNESCO as a World Cultural and Natural Heritage; Tong Quang Thin, Member of the Provincial Party Committee Standing Committee, Permanent Vice Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee; Tran Song Tung, Member of the Provincial Party Committee Standing Committee, Vice Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee; Bui Hoang Ha, Member of the Provincial Party Committee Standing Committee, Vice Chairman of the Provincial People's Council; comrades members of the Organizing Committee of activities celebrating the 10th anniversary of Trang An Scenic Landscape Complex being recognized by UNESCO as a World Cultural and Natural Heritage; leaders of departments, branches, sectors, localities...

In his opening speech and introduction to the Workshop, Comrade Pham Quang Ngoc, Deputy Secretary of the Provincial Party Committee, Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee, Head of the Organizing Committee of the 10th anniversary of Trang An Scenic Landscape Complex being recognized by UNESCO as a World Cultural and Natural Heritage, emphasized: Ninh Binh - a land blessed with many famous landscapes, landscapes, and unique natural wonders. This place, which has left its mark tens of thousands of years ago, was chosen by ancient ancestors as a place to live, flexibly adapting to changes in the living environment to create a unique cultural form in prehistoric times, creating a premise for Hoa Lu Ancient Capital to be chosen as the capital of Dai Co Viet State.

After 42 years (968-1010) of existence and association with three dynasties: Dinh, Tien Le, Ly, it was truly the political, economic, cultural center of the unified, independent, autonomous Dai Co Viet country... playing the role of a solid military citadel created by nature and people, thus creating the driving force to attract people from many regions to live. Hoa Lu is also the name of the capital - the first imperial capital of Dai Viet nation, an urban - port city leaning on the mountain, overlooking the river, opening to the East Sea, opening up, laying the foundation for the development of Dai Viet civilization.

The outstanding values of Hoa Lu - Ninh Binh land with its unique and rich natural and cultural resources are the potential for developing ecological and cultural tourism of the province. Trang An scenic area is also identified as a place to be invested in to become a national and international tourist area... in the overall planning of tourism development in Vietnam.

After 10 years of being recognized by UNESCO as a World Cultural and Natural Heritage, Trang An scenic area has become a clear demonstration of an inevitable trend: That is, connecting heritage tourism between provinces, regions, and even further, between countries, in order to create unique values and brands for the heritage area. What is special is that Trang An has created new values to connect the indigenous and modern characteristics, of the past urban area with the future urban area on the basis of effective, harmonious and sustainable conservation of heritage values; becoming a choice, a destination, a familiar place that meets many types of tourists, as well as keeping up with the general development needs of the social situation, market economy and especially always associated with the policy of comprehensive development of cultural elements of the Party and Government, along with the development orientation of Ninh Binh province.

The above advantages are also challenges for the management, conservation, promotion of values, demonstrating the responsibility of the people and the government towards the precious heritage of their ancestors in the face of issues such as: the responsibility of the government and the people in preserving and maintaining the title of "World Heritage", in order to promote the development of heritage economy... These challenges need to be solved with specific goals and vision of the Ninh Binh Provincial Planning approved by the Prime Minister, that is, by 2035, it will become a centrally-run city with the characteristics of a millennium heritage city, a creative city; a large center with high brand value in tourism, cultural industry, heritage economy of the whole country and the Asia - Pacific region. Tourism - tourism products from heritage are the choice and solution for this goal.

At the Workshop, the Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee hopes that domestic and foreign scientists and experts will focus on discussing a number of main contents such as: Honoring, promoting and disseminating the values of Trang An Scenic Landscape Complex associated with sustainable tourism development, as a premise towards building Hoa Lu city into a Millennium Heritage City; reviewing outstanding achievements in 10 years, and proposing orientations for overall conservation planning of the heritage site with an interdisciplinary and multi-disciplinary approach - as a model heritage city; determining the role and position of Heritage in tourism economic development, socio-economic development; conservation, scientific research; calling for, attracting investment, attracting tourists and cooperating, connecting World Heritage cities; Research and propose solutions to share and spread more strongly domestically and internationally practical experiences in conservation and development from Trang An Scenic Landscape Complex, thereby proposing appropriate policies to the Government and UNESCO...

Ninh Binh province always strives to honor and affirm the role and importance of the outstanding global values of the Heritage and improve the effectiveness in managing, preserving and promoting the outstanding global values of the Heritage; continue to fulfill its commitments to UNESCO in managing and promoting values to preserve and conserve the Heritage for future generations.

To fully promote the scientific, cultural and historical values of the heritage, serve sustainable development, and build a Millennium Heritage City like Ninh Binh is aiming for, Comrade Pham Thanh Binh, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, said that Ninh Binh needs to continue to strengthen the preservation, conservation and promotion of world heritage values according to UNESCO standards; strengthen education and public awareness, raise awareness of the value of Trang An World Heritage for the community and tourists; strengthen cooperation with international organizations and other local partners to share heritage management experiences and learn from the success of other destinations...

Comrade Pham Thanh Binh affirmed that in the coming time, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Vietnam National Commission for UNESCO will continue to accompany Ninh Binh so that the Trang An Landscape Complex continues to be a model model in preserving and promoting heritage values, contributing to realizing the aspiration to build Ninh Binh into a Millennium Heritage City, a creative city of UNESCO, making Ninh Binh a land rich in culture, strong in economy, green and clean in environment, meeting all the criteria for sustainable development.

Recognizing and welcoming the vision and spirit of cooperation that paved the way for Trang An's achievements, Chief Representative of UNESCO Office in Hanoi Jonathan Baker said that UNESCO remains steadfast in its commitment to supporting Trang An to overcome challenges. UNESCO Office is ready to provide the expertise to ensure Trang An continues to be a beacon for responsible and sustainable tourism activities. Trang An's current vision is fully consistent with UNESCO's core mission of promoting peaceful cultural understanding and sustainable development through heritage conservation, therefore, Mr. Jonathan Baker believes that Trang An will continue to serve as a model for stable and responsible development for future generations.

To clarify the contents of "Promoting the role and value of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage of Trang An Scenic Landscape Complex in building a Millennium Heritage City and connecting world heritage cities", after the opening session, delegates, scientists, and domestic and foreign experts conducted 3 discussion sessions: General session "Connecting Trang An heritage city with UNESCO heritage cities" and 2 thematic sessions "A decade of Trang An world heritage - Journey of creation and conservation to promote values" and "Planning to comprehensively preserve and promote the values of Trang An world heritage towards a millennium heritage city".

Song Nguyen - Minh Hai - Anh Tuan

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