On the occasion of the recognition of Thang Long Citadel as World Heritage, Irina Bokova, Director-General of UNESCO traveled to Vietnam to personally present the certificate and to attend celebrations for Thang Long-Hanoi’s 1,000th anniversary.
Tuoi Tre spoke to Ms. Irina Bokova about the preservation of cultural heritages and about UNESCO’s role in a quickly modernizing Vietnam.
As you have stated on the UNESCO website, you regret that culture is not one of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). Why is that? And what, you think, is the role of cultural preservation in the future of Vietnam?
[The Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) are eight development goals that all UN member states and leading international organizations agreed should be reached by the year 2015. They include eradicating extreme poverty, reducing child mortality rates, fighting disease epidemics and developing a global partnership for development. Vietnam has shown an impressive progress in meeting most MDGs, with the most significant achievement being MDG #1: Eradicate extreme poverty and hunger]
As I have said many times, I believe that culture has a strong link to development and I will give you several examples. In terms of economic growth, culture in many countries creates revenues.
Here in Vietnam, tourism is based mostly on culture. I understood from the Ministry of Culture and Tourism that it accounts for 5.5 percent of the country’s GDP. Culture is also relevant to creative industry. If you add up the profits from creative industry like crafts, cultural events, and festivals to those of tourism they represent a quite substantial portion of GDP.
Vietnam is one of many examples of this which also applies to many other countries in the world including emerging powers and developing countries. I would say this is sheer economic reasoning.
People need knowledge as a solid basis to step on to integrate in this globalized and competitive world. People need to know where they come from, who they are and what are their national identities and histories.
I believe that any modern country needs it. Vietnam is a case in point with such an impressive and modern economic development and strong drive to enter the new technology and knowledge-based society of the 21st century.
At the same you are further encouraged to go into the future when you know who you are and are proud of your heritage.
Hence, I believe that preservation of tangible and intangible heritage is not the least factor in any country. You can’t only have, let’s say, education promoted without knowledge of the cultural specificity of a certain group or a certain nation.
Cultural diversity is an extremely important element of globalization. Without it we would all be heading towards inequality. I think the richness of cultural diversity is an extremely important element in any form of development.
For the first time during the MDGs debate in New York, there was an important side event on culture and development. I’m very happy that the language proposed to be incorporated in the outcome document of the General Assembly Session, includes a paragraph proposed by UNESCO with strong emphasis on the “close link between culture and development”. This happened for the first time. I’m very happy and proud that we could do that because we’ve worked for months to convince governments that this link is very strong.
You just returned from world heritage site Halong Bay. Based on your visit, what is your assessment of the protection and promotion of cultural heritage sites in Vietnam?
Halong Bay, of course, is a unique monument. You rarely encounter such a beautiful creation of nature.
I believe that the Vietnamese authorities I have met, the Provincial Deputy Governor and representatives from the UNESCO Heritage Site management team, are in constant contact with our World Heritage Center.
At the last meeting of the World Heritage Committee in Brasilia (of Brazil), there were still some questions around preservation and protection. I know that many things have been done; still, we discussed some remaining challenges which mainly, I believe, are linked to a huge amount of tourists visiting the site. It’s a perfect example of a UNESCO heritage site which becomes victim to its own success.
On the one hand, it is good that tourists are coming because it develops the local economy. Once again it is culture and development. It develops local industries. It creates jobs. People become more aware also of the monument.
On the other hand it creates environmental protection problems. So the most important thing that came out of today’s discussion with the authorities is that people recognize these challenges and UNESCO will continue helping to tackle some of them. I would say that the problem of how to reconcile preservation and modernity; especially when there’s a big inflow of tourists is a common problem in many parts of the world.
What lesson can Vietnam learn from the removal of Germany’s Dresden Elbe Valley from UNESCO’s World Heritage list last August?
Well, there it wasn’t that much lack of management or lack of protection of the site. It was rather the construction of the bridge which, according to the decision of the committee, changed and damaged the urban landscape.
It intruded, the committee explained. Because of the way it was built it changed the authentic character of the site. We have such cases also in other cities. So, one should be careful to preserve authenticity.
It doesn’t mean that UNESCO is against modern cities and modernization. The question is whether what you will build, be that a bridge or a road, destroys the authenticity of the site. If you decide to construct, make sure the authenticity is maintained. My advice is to consult the World Heritage Committee beforehand.
For example, I saw the new bridge in Halong Bay. There were some doubts in the beginning but I’m glad there was consultation on the design. The design of the bridge is very wise. It is almost transparent and doesn’t destroy the landscape. I think your government has done the right thing by consulting with the World Heritage Committee before the construction. This is very important.
As Vietnam becomes a middle income country how does UNESCO support Vietnam?
Supporting middle income countries is a big challenge for UNESCO. We need very specific policies and targets different from when we work in a developing country.
The underlining purpose and objective of the United Nation and UNESCO is twofold.
On one side, fast economic growth creates inequalities in societies and, I think, what we can do is to support the integration of marginalized groups who have difficulties in being competitive. Education is a perfect example.
We want to focus on those who are lagging behind so that they can also integrate in society and society, in turns, becomes more inclusive, more just and more coherent. We have seen that in many parts of the world, in Brazil, in India, in Argentina and many middle-income countries like Vietnam.
The second objective, I believe, is to help your country become competitive and integrate into the world economy. In other countries, we talk about education for all, but in Vietnam, we talk about quality education. In other countries we speak about dropout rates, but here about having solid secondary education, introducing sciences in education. We have engaged in a different level of cooperation.
What was your overall impression of your trip to Vietnam?
We traveled to Halong Bay by car. I think that Vietnam is a very impressive country in construction. You see it everywhere. It’s incredible, construction sites all over. I also saw many manufacturing sites.
I saw a lot of optimism and enthusiasm in the Vietnamese people and society.
I saw a strong commitment on the part of Ministers and Prime Minister. I have the feeling that they know what they want and where to lead the country and they are very much committed to do that.
I see a lot of energy in your people. I think you are living trough a sort of national renaissance, a kind of awakening and very quickly marching towards the future.
I commend what I saw here. It’s wonderful. I’m very impressed, really.
