The Secretariat of the Vietnam National Commission for UNESCO met with Vietnam Geoparks Network

The meeting aimed to provide a forum for exchanging the contents of the Activity Plan 2024 of the Geoparks and proposing activities that need support and collaboration of the  Secretariats.
At the meeting, the representative leader of the Management Board of Non nuoc Cao Bang Geopark reported the outstanding achievements of the Geopark in 2023 and suggested the Secretariats assist the Geopark in organizing the 8^th Asia Pacific Geoparks Network Symposium in Cao Bang, particularly proposing the Vietnam National Commission for UNESCO act as a co-chair of the Symposium, support the application of dossier for organizing the Symposium to the Government, organize a courtesy meeting between high rank international delegates and the Vietnam National Commission for UNESCO, support in Symposium side events and the preparation for the 2^nd revalidation of UNESCO Global Geopark status.

Besides, the Management Board of Dong Van Karst Plateau UGGp suggested the Secretariats assist the deployment of the Scheme on tourist fee collection in Dong Van Karst Plateau UGGp, upgrade of the Management Board of the Geopark to a unit under the umbrella of Ha Giang Provincial People’s Committee. The Management Board of Lang Son Geopark suggested the Secretariats assist the Geopark in successfully going through the UGGp evaluation mission.  
Ms. Le Thi Hong Van, Former Permanent Representative of Vietnam to UNESCO Ambassador gave closing remarks

Closing the meeting, Ms. Le Thi Hong Van, Former Permanent Representative of Vietnam to UNESCO Ambassador acknowledged the contributions of the Vietnam Geoparks Network, which has been increasingly receiving positive international appreciation for active participation in international events and she affirmed that Geopark is a practical model for local socio-economic development. For the 8^th Asia Pacific Geoparks Network Symposium in Cao Bang, Ms. Ambassador stated that it is a key event among cooperative activities with UNESCO in 2024; therefore, the Master Plan on the organization of the Symposium should be promulgated soon and the Management Board of Non nuoc Cao Bang Geopark have to hurry advising Cao Bang Provincial People’s Committee to meet with the Vietnam National Commission for UNESCO on discussing and agreeing on issues that Cao Bang needs Vietnam National Commission for UNESCO’s support. Ms. Van emphasized that the Secretariats would propose the Central Government and the Vietnam National Commission for UNESCO pay attention to the Scheme on tourist fee collection in the Geopark territories, ensure the legal framework for the operation of Geoparks in Viet Nam, and actively support the organization of workshops and conferences related to management structure of the Geoparks and evaluation, revalidation of the UNESCO Global Geopark designation.