LookAtVietnam – A delegation from Viet Nam is attending the 33rd meeting of the World Heritage Committee (WHC) that opened in Seville, Spain, on Monday.

Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park.

The 12-member Vietnamese delegation is led by Pham Sanh Chau, head of the Culture, External Relations and UNESCO Department under the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

During a talk with the Director-General of UNESCO, Kochiro Matsuura, Chau spoke about the preparation for the application of Thang Long Royal Citadel to be added to the World Heritage List next year.

Viet Nam has five cultural and natural properties on the list, including Ha Long Bay, Hoi An Ancient Town, My Son Cham Tower Complex and Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park.

New sites

The committee said it was considering requests for the inscription of new sites on UNESCO’s list.

The new properties submitted for inscription on the World Heritage List this year are comprised of four natural, 23 cultural and 3 mixed (both natural and cultural) properties.

The committee is also reviewing the state of conservation of the 27 World Heritage properties inscribed on the List of World Heritage in Danger sites.

These sites are threatened by a variety of problems such as pollution, urban development, poorly managed mass tourism, wars, and natural disasters.

To date, the World Heritage List recognises 878 properties of “outstanding universal value,” including 679 cultural, 174 natural and 25 mixed properties in 145 states.

WHC, responsible for the implementation of the 1972 Convention, comprises representatives of 21 countries, elected by the states for up to six years. Each year, the committee adds new sites to the List.

WHC also examines reports on the state of conservation of inscribed sites and asks parties to take appropriate conservation and preservation measures when necessary.

The committee supervises the disbursement of more than US$4 million annually from the World Heritage Fund, aimed at emergency action, training of experts and technical co-operation.

VietNamNet/Viet Nam News