Vietnam Federation of UNESCO Associations (VFUA) was founded in 1993 in compliance with the recommendation of UNESCO’s Director General and decision issued by the Prime Minister of Vietnam’s Government. VFUA is functioning to mobilize intellectuals and citizens in Vietnam to participate in activities of UNECO’s competence including culture, education, science and information-communication, thus to make contribution to cause of the country’s development and enhance solidarity among nations and maintain peace of the world.

Internationally, VFUA tightly coordinated with the global UNESCO non-governmental movement, fully affiliated to Asia-Pacific Federation of UNESCO Clubs and Associations and the World Federation of UNESCO Clubs, Centres and Associations. VFUA is recognized as an active member who makes positive contribution to UNESCO non-governmental activities in the world. VFUA is highly supported and trusted by brotherhood federations.

Vietnam Federation of UNESCO Associations is authorized to host the 8^th World Congress of the World Federation of UNESCO Clubs, Centres and Associations (WFUCA) in Hanoi from 18^th to 22^nd August 2011. This decision is supported by relevant governmental agencies in Vietnam and approved with high consensus at the 29^th Session of WFUCA’s Executive Board held in Beijing, China in August 2010.

The 8^th World Congress is especially significant to UNESCO and WFUCA because this congress will commemorate 30^th Anniversary of WFUCA’s foundation (1981-2011). This is an opportunity to review the milestones in development of the UNESCO non-governmental movement led by WFUCA to mobilize people and intellectuals widely to stand side by side with UNESCO in strongly advocating the progressive objectives and noble spirit of peace.

In Vietnam, this will be an important and remarkable international event held this year. It gives an opportunity to introduce the country and the people of Vietnam, expose its economic, social and cultural achievements. Vietnam Federation of UNESCO Associations will organize this event with utmost hospitality and responsibility. The organizing works for this World Congress is entirely socialized and based on initiatives contributed in spirit of volunteer by VFUA’s members and supported by people at the community.

The 8^th World Congress of WFUCA will be held in the National Conference Centre (My Dinh, Hanoi). Hundreds foreign delegates and important leaders of UNESCO non-governmental movement come from all Members of WFUCA will participate this congress. Within this congress, apart from UNESCO’s leaders in office, it is the first time a congress of WFUCA would  be attended by the former leaders of UNESCO and WFUCA. The opening and closing session will be attended by the leaders of Vietnamese Government, representatives of diplomatic corps, governmental agencies, social organizations and enterprises.

Besides the agenda of this congress, some important events with UNESCO-related content would be organized in parallel including as follows:

-          Dialogue among financial corporations, banks and Vietnamese organizations, enterprises operating in fields of education, science, culture and communication.

-          International Youth Forum held by UNESCO in coordination with World Federation of UNESCO Clubs, Centres and Associations and Vietnam Federation of UNESCO Associations to review the International Year for Youth promoted by UN and UNESCO (8/2010 - 8/2011).

-          Writing Competition on “Young people in Vietnam with Integration” organized by Ngay Nay Magazine as the press agency of Vietnam Federation of UNESCO Associations will be promoted in April 2011 and Award Ceremony will be held in August as the same time with the World Congress.

-          Exhibitions on cultural, scientific and educational achievements  of Vietnam

-          International Music Festival to commemorate the Day of National Resistance War on 19^th August, to welcome the 8^th World Congress and 30^th Anniversary of WFUCA in the evening of 19^th August 2011 in Bao Son Paradise, Hanoi. The national and international outstanding performance groups and famous singers  will participate.

Youth will be given the priority at this World Congress of WFUCA. The outcome of promoting the International Year for Youth will be followed up by UNESCO with high priority in conjunction with issues of sustainable development and social as well as economic targets. Vietnam Federation of UNESCO Associations in role of the host organization and responding to the International Year for Youth has selected and assigned singer Tran Nguyen Uyen Linh to be the Goodwill Ambassador of VFUA in charge of youth. In this role, singer Uyen Linh will join with VFUA in spreading out the important messages of UNESCO and UN in relating youth at the community in Vietnam. She will take part in VFUA’s activities to promote knowledge of the times, international education for youth in Vietnam, mobilizing youth in healthy and humane social-cultural activities thus making contribution to the national target of development, strengthening solidarity among nations, maintaining peace as recognized by the Constitution of UNESCO.

With the utmost drives of the organizer that is supported and encouraged by the Government of Vietnam, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the National Commission for UNESCO of Vietnam, relevant organizations, particularly UNESCO and WFUCA, the 8^th World Congress and 30^th Anniversary of WFUCA’s foundation to be held in Hanoi this August will be a UNESCO Festive Day for all who are serving UNESCO-related activities, both governmental and non-governmental, who love UNESCO and trust in the noble ideals and progressive objectives of UNESCO.

This press conference chaired by Mr. Nguyen Xuan Thang in capacity of the President of Vietnam Federation of UNESCO Associations and Secretary General of World Federation of UNESCO Clubs, centres and Associations and witnessed by Mr. George Christophides, the President of WFUCA. It is confidence that this event would draw the attention and support from governmental agencies and civil organizations to make the 8^th World Congress of WFUCA to be held in Hanoi most successful.

VFUA