On the occasion of attending the World Conference on Cultural Policies and Sustainable Development (MONDIACULT 2025), held in Barcelona (Spain) from September 29 to October 1, 2025, Mr. Nguyen Van Hung, Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism of Vietnam, held bilateral meetings with leaders of international cultural organizations and his counterparts from other countries.

During the meeting with Mr. Ernesto Ottone, UNESCO Assistant Director-General for Culture, Minister Nguyen Van Hung commended UNESCO and the Spanish Government for co-organizing MONDIACULT 2025.

Minister Nguyen Van Hung also discussed Vietnam’s initiative that propose UNESCO launch a Decade of Culture for Sustainable Development, underscoring the essential role and contribution of culture to sustainability. The proposed framework would focus on key global priorities such as Culture and Peace, Culture and Artificial Intelligence and Technology, and Culture and Climate Change, among others.

Mr. Ernesto Ottone congratulated Vietnam on the successful inscription of the Yen Tu – Vinh Nghiem – Con Son - Kiep Bac Scenic and Cultural Complex and several other heritage titles to UNESCO’s lists. He highly appreciated Vietnam’s proactive and responsible approach in proposing the Decade of Culture for Sustainable Development initiative, affirming that UNESCO would seriously consider and evaluate the proposal before making a decision soon.

Minister Nguyen Van Hung also met with Ms. Magdalena Moreno Mujica, Executive Director of the International Federation of Arts Councils and Culture Agencies (IFACCA). Ms. Mujica expressed her admiration and emphasized that the speech delivered by Vietnam’s Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism was among the most inspiring addresses at the Forum on Cultural Rights and Cultural Economy within the framework of MONDIACULT 2025.

During the meeting with Ms. Margareth Menezes, Brazil’s Minister of Culture, both sides agreed to continue implementing the key directions set forth by Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh and the President of Brazil Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, aiming to further strengthen and deepen cultural cooperation between the two countries in a more effective and substantive manner.

During the meeting with Mr. Ernest Urtasun, Spain’s Minister of Culture, Minister Nguyen Van Hung congratulated his counterpart on the host country’s strong and meaningful contributions to MONDIACULT 2025. The two ministers reviewed and discussed the implementation of the Memorandum of Understanding on Cooperation in the fields of culture and sports between the two ministries, signed on April 9, 2025, during the official visit to Vietnam by Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez.

In the meeting with Mr. Jorge Rodríguez Vives, Minister of Culture of Costa Rica, both focused on cooperation within the framework of the UNESCO. Costa Rica proposed that Vietnam support its two intangible cultural heritage nominations to be submitted to UNESCO for consideration and recognition in the near future.